Special Buddies Day Event for Families
The Amelie Housing site in Penrith host Halloween fun for kids doing it tough.
On Sunday 30th of October St Vincent de Paul Society NSW metro youth members, volunteers and staff hosted a fun Buddies Day event at the Amelie Housing estate in Penrith.
Children from the Marian Centre and from the Amelie estate had requested an event to dress up for Halloween. In response, Vinnies’ helped them to organise this and to bring children from both sites together.
The children had some *spooky* Halloween fun, including craft, face painting and trick or treating through the estate. The neighbours more than delivered on the lollies!
Events like these are part of an ongoing Buddies Day program that aims to increase the personal wellbeing of children experiencing disadvantage or hardship by providing fun and/or educational activities in a positive, safe and supportive environment. It also provides much needed respite for caregivers.
Many of the referrals to this program come from families already engaged with other Vinnies services, such as our housing and homelessness services.
Over the past year, Amelie Housing sites have started to host events for children and adults as part of the Point of Difference (POD) initiative, which aims to help social and affordable housing residents build strong communities and form positive relationships with the wider community, and so far the Buddies Days events have proven to be very popular.
This was the first event for the Penrith site, and gave parents an opportunity to meet our staff and volunteers so that they will feel more comfortable in allowing their children to attend future Buddies Day outings.
Of course, the Buddies Days events would not be possible without our young volunteer members, who receive training and support to deliver the program. If you’d like to get involved email vinnies.youthnsw@vinnies.org.au.