Liverpool Hub

Social Enterprise Employment Scholarships

With ongoing SCF SWF support, Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections (LNC) has grown from one to five social enterprises. Creating 4,846 hours of work for disadvantaged women in Western Sydney, $145,409.65 wages were paid to local women last financial year.

For women who have taken up the challenge to change their life, these scholarships help them take the next step into employment. Offering education and work experience, LNC’s strong employment pathways break down barriers of disadvantage whether they be cultural, language based or financial.

Alleviating financial stress for their families, the women take great joy and pride in the role model they become for their children.

Women’s Business Incubator

Now in its seventh year, the Women’s Micro Business Incubator will teach 10 financially excluded and marginalised women from the Liverpool area how to start their own business.

Since 2013, the Micro Business Incubator initiated by Sydney Women’s Fund and run by Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections has supported 65 women and launched 18 small businesses, with more in the pipeline.

Graduates receive a $500 start-up grant and mentoring in the 10 week program and beyond. Offering a range of products and services, women can grow their business selling their products at the LNC run social enterprise, ‘The Rising Collective’ boutique in Liverpool or online.

Strive for Girls – Warwick Farm

A powerful initiative for young girls, Strive has empowered over 100 at-risk girls since 2013 to make positive life choices. From families of intergenerational unemployment, the girls come to believe they don’t bring value to the outside world.

Strive invites the girls on a journey to realise their strengths and to be changemakers, to stand up to injustice, to take pride in hard work and empower others to do the same.

Designed and run by Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections to guide girls safely from year 6 to 10, learn new skills like coding and self-defence, stay engaged with school and have fun.

Thrive for Boys – Warwick Farm

As they make the journey to manhood, Thrive empowers 20 boys over 12 months to make positive life choices, including respect for themselves and the women in their lives.

From year 6 through high school, Thrive is skilling young men from disadvantaged families in self awareness, anger management and self belief. Engaging in constructive after school activities, the community has seen a marked decrease in vandalism and crime.

Thrive offered at Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections has become invaluable, keeping kids connected and strengthening their sense of belonging in the community.

Dinner for 4 – Heckenberg

Making it easier for families to eat an affordable, healthy dinner.

Launched in 2017, Dinner for 4 prepares and packages a healthy meal for 120 families in Heckenberg Western Sydney.

Making 30-40 meals per week. Dinner for 4 creates new employment opportunities for disadvantaged women in Liverpool. Trained in safe food handling to pack parcels for delivery, women gain skills, work experience and paid 2 hours per week, for 40 weeks of the year.

Demand is growing for this project delivered by Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections.

‘The Rising Collective’ Women’s Pop-Up Shop

Opening in December 2017 as ‘The Rising Collective’ boutique, graduates of the Women’s Micro Business Incubator gain access to a main street retail space. In addition, the store is part of the employment scholarship program providing practical retail training and employment work experience for local women.

Forming part of an ‘advanced’ program delivered by Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections, women are given training onsite in money handling, customer service, promotion and product design. They are also matched with a mentor in their industry.