Holding Redlich’s Brisbane office has proudly supported Brisbane Youth Service since 2006, donating more than $100,000 to help support vulnerable young people. Now, for the first time, it is with great pleasure we announce Holding Redlich is now an official BYS Partner for 2019-20.
As a long-time supporter of BYS, Holding Redlich has made an invaluable contribution to the organisation. Since Holding Redlich’s Brisbane office first began supporting BYS more than 10 years ago, the law firm has made more than $100,000 in charitable donations, making a huge difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness or who are in crisis in Brisbane. Holding Redlich has been involved in BYS campaigns and wish-list drives, as well as providing pro-bono legal assistance. Through pro-bono work with LawRight (an independent, not-for-profit, community-based legal organisation that provides pro bono legal services for individuals and community groups in Queensland), Holding Redlich has supported BYS in assisting young people who are experiencing legal issues or are involved in the justice system. Volunteer lawyers from Holding Redlich visit the BYS Valley Hub weekly for free appointments with young people, to assist them to identify and navigate their way through legal issues. The lawyers can provide ongoing legal casework for the young person, and offer practical help, working on their legal issues until they are resolved. Their time is generously volunteered free of charge and in-kind gifts provided through campaigns and drives, mean more of BYS’s own funds can be redirected toward helping young people in crisis.
Most significantly, since 2017 Holding Redlich has provided considerable pro-bono support to assist BYS to develop additional housing for young people in Brisbane. This project is in partnership with the Property Industry Foundation (PIF) and the housing is on land made available by the Queensland Government under their GLASS (Government Land for Accommodation and Support Services) program. The project will form a combination of one and two-bedroom units and will provide supported housing for young people and young families experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.
Holding Redlich has committed to providing all legal services pro bono until the project’s anticipated completion in 2020. This commitment means our resources can be reallocated to extend BYS’s reach and the impact of our work with young people. The 2016 Census showed more than 25,000 children 18 years and under were homeless in Australia. This represents 23 per cent of all homeless people nation-wide. Children and young people under the age of 25 make up just under 40 per cent of all homeless people in Australia.
BYS has been working with homeless and vulnerable young people in Brisbane since 1977. In Queensland, 2016 ABS figures showed there were 4,454 young people aged under 25, and as young as 12, who had no place to call home. BYS gets busier each year with more young people with complex needs requiring more support more often. We provided more than 31,980 occasions of support in 2018-19 – an increase of 18 per cent on the previous year.
We thank Holding Redlich for its generous and on-going commitment, enabling BYS to redirect funds to fill the gap in existing resources and deliver on our promise to support new futures for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.