Sisters Inside Fund for Children
The Sisters Inside Fund for Children supports children
of women in the criminal justice system to choose their own future
free of the burdens so commonly felt by these children following
the incarceration of their mothers.
The question most frequently asked of our Chief Executive Officer,
Debbie Kilroy OAM, is 'how can we help?'
The Fund for Children is our answer to that question. It is a
response to the needs of these children and is a vehicle for our
friends and supporters to share our work and our journey.
The Fund supports programs for children that enable them to maintain
a healthy relationship with their mother and to grow and develop
and enjoy their lives. These programs work with children to overcome
disadvantages resulting from the separation and trauma of their
mother's criminalisation.
Sisters Inside has an excellent history of support from donors.
In 2013 Sisters' received over $100k in donations from individuals
and our corporate supporters. Over half of these donations were
unsolicited, evidence of the confidence the community has in our
work.
The Sisters Inside Fund for Children enables us to expand the
scope of our work with children and allows our friends and supporters
to further engage with our work.
Why establish
the Sisters Inside Fund for Children?
Sisters Inside currently operates a range of programs for children
including play groups, programs for Indigenous children, transport
and support for children visiting mums in prison, camps, and
art and writing groups.
Some of these activities are funded as part of existing Sisters
Inside programs, however the bulk of this work depends on volunteers
and Sisters Inside's own fund raising program and additional
work by Sisters Inside staff and their families and friends.
The Sisters Inside Fund for Children seeks to provide long term
support to these programs and to bring to this work the stability
that only ongoing dedicated funding can provide.
In particular, Sisters Inside has identified other organisations
who share our values and aspirations and who want to partner
in programs for children. Sisters' Inside is exploring and developing
those relationships and seeks to translate this good will into
meaningful action in the immediate future.
The needs of children of women supported by Sisters Inside are
growing and urgent.
Responding to these needs has become an increasingly significant
part of Sisters' work and we are aware many of our friends and
supporters share our commitment to the welfare of these vulnerable
children. The Fund for Children will enable individuals and
organisations to participate in these activities and programs.
Additionally, Sisters wants to build partnerships with other
organisations in the interests of these children. This is challenging
because Sisters' work with children is not securely funded in
itself or as part of other programs.
The Fund for Children enables Sisters Inside to plan and manage
programs for children from an identifiable and secure funding
base.
How does
the Sisters Inside Fund for Children operate
The Sisters Inside Fund for Children is administered by Sisters
Inside Board of Management and managed by Sisters Inside according
to a Charter for the Fund for Children.
The Fund is separately accounted for and is reported to its
supporters and partners in the Sisters Inside Annual Report.
Sisters Inside has Donor Gift Recipient tax status and donations
to Sisters Inside are tax deductible.
