Innovation and strong leadership supports expansion and growth

FROM THE JUDGES:

Working together grew the reach of this partnership to support more in need.”

KEY RESULTS + FEATURES

  • JB Hi-Fi introduced a new charity, Kids Under Cover (KUC), in response to feedback from team members that they cared about the issue of youth homelessness
  • Led to immediate financial support for KUC, ensuring it had the resources needed to engage an external feasibility study to understand how to expand beyond Victoria
  • Part of JB Hi-Fi’s new charity rotation innovation
  • More ‘youth at risk of homelessness’ to be supported

 OVERVIEW + HIGHLIGHTS

  • KUC is a Victorian-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preventing youth homelessness. It supports vulnerable young people (between the ages of 12 and 25 years) who are at risk of homelessness.  KUC builds relocatable, one and two-bedroom studios (including a bathroom), in the backyard of a family or carer’s home.  KUC complements its support with scholarships for education or job training, offsetting basic education costs to empower young people to achieve their goals
  • JB Hi-Fi and KUC formed their workplace giving partnership in 2018 as part of JB Hi-Fi’s new charity rotation model
  • The partnership launch involved a keynote presentation by the CEO of KUC to more than 600 members of the JB Hi-Fi team. The KUC partnership was introduced and the issues associated with youth homelessness were highlighted
  • KUC, together with the 12 member JB Hi-Fi “Helping Hands” committee, outlined key objectives that aligned with both organisations’ values and vision
  • JB Hi-Fi was committed to understanding KUC’s aspirations and what was limiting the charity’s ability to scale and the support needed to navigate local government requirements in other jurisdictions outside Victoria
  • The partnership commenced with instant funds from the workplace giving program, support and leadership engagement from JB Hi-Fi. As a result, KUC was immediately in a position to ensure more young people at risk could be supported
  • The willingness of the JB Hi-Fi Helping Hands committee to support a charity’s processes and strategy (in addition to outcomes) show a sophistication and willingness to fund process improvement, which will ultimately lead to more young people being supported