In collaboration with refuge and crisis centres in Queensland, this volunteer-run not for profit charity also provides practical programs to assist survivors of domestic violence. Such programs include Community engagement, encouraging individuals to speak out against domestic violence, Friend Safe smart watch alarm for victims and survivors, Little Friends Scholarships which provide academic and extracurricular activity support to children, and the Sanctuary Program which transforms houses for victims who have left everything behind.

A Friend Safe Personal Safety Device looks and acts like any other smart watch, with the important additional feature: The ability to connect with emergency services any time of the day or night 365 days a year, with the push of a button, eliminating the need for a phone.

Little Friends Scholarships to the value of $500 per child are specifically for children financially impacted by Domestic and Family Violence. They help children with the ability to either further their education and/or be able to participate in extra-curricular activities that they may not be able to pursue due to the financial impact of Domestic and Family Violence.

Unfortunately, the number of applications received for these scholarships far exceeds the available funding.

 The Friends With Dignity Sanctuary Program transforms houses into homes for people who have escaped domestic violence to start their new journey with dignity, free from abuse. Using household and personal care items, gift cards and financial donations given by supporters, Friends with Dignity work on a referral basis through registered agencies. Urgent requests are filled for people waiting in refuges, or that have already settled in their new homes. They may have just arrived in refuge and need some nappies for their baby, toiletries for themselves, or they may have just moved into their new home and need basic kitchen items.

Some other examples of urgent requests are driving lessons for a bicycle to help a little friend get to and from school, school fees and book lists, a mum learning independence for the first time, funds to assist with training for a new job, baby items for a mum 8 months pregnant and leaving an abusive relationship, removalist costs to help a family escape a violent home, …and the list goes on.

At St John’s, we are committed to improving the lives of adult and child survivors of domestic violence. Can we contribute at least $1,000 (the equivalent of 2 Little Friend Scholarships) towards the work of Friends With Dignity?

Donations to this appeal are tax deductible. Outreach envelopes for January are available at the Outreach Board in the Narthex. Please place your donation in an Outreach envelope and place it in the Donations Box, give it to a cathedral warden, or to the Cathedral Office Monday-Friday. If you need a receipt, please write your name and address on the envelope. Using electronic banking, make a bank transfer to BSB 034 003 Account No:385378. Please narrate your deposit “Outreach 01” and e-mail outreach@stjohnscathedral.com.au to inform us of your deposit (including the amount), and provide your postal/email details for the receipt. For other forms of payment, please phone the cathedral office [(07) 3835 2222] during normal business hours Monday-Friday. Cheques should be made payable to Friends With Dignity. Receipts will be provided after the January appeal is completed, usually in March. Thank you.