Belgravia Foundation

Tune in today for our next feature story about the launch of Belgravia Foundations All In program at Ascot Vale Leisure Centre and Keilor East Leisure Centre in VIC! During an annual community network forum and consultation session with cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups in the region, participants and staff identified a need for a program which would help remove barriers and increase participation in swim lessons. Working together with Moonee Valley City Council and Belgravia Leisure, Belgravia Foundations All In program was deemed a great fit in line with the needs of the community. The All In program provides swim teachers with training to develop their confidence and capacity to welcome, support and include people of diversity into aquatic experiences, as well as offering CALD people subsidised lessons using local Belgravia Foundation fundraiser donations. The program runs for a total of 12 weeks and significantly reduces the participant fees by providing a 50% discount over the program period, making this program suitable for a number of people residing in the nearby Flemington community. The program has been a fantastic success so far, and Belgravia Foundation looks forward to improved aquatic opportunities and continued delivery of All In for the local Moonee Valley community. Read more about this program today: https://lnkd.in/g6CDEQBg

Continuing our 12 days of stories, next we are celebrating the progress of the YouMeUs online training platform, in which Belgravia Foundation leads the ongoing administration, maintenance and growth of this tool. This year YouMeUs achieved a huge milestone. Since its inception a total of 12,216 participants have successfully completed the YouMeUs training course, equipping them with skills to better welcome, support and include people with a disability into their venue’s facilities, services and programs. Data is continuously collected to evaluate the impact of the online training and feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Some key highlights include: ✅ The average participant score for the statement "my knowledge of inclusive practices in leisure Centres has improved" is 88.65 out of 100. ✅ The average participant score for the statement "I now feel better able to welcome and support people with a disability in the leisure Centre I work" is 88.41 out of 100. ✅ 93% of participants found it helpful to move through the training at their own pace, time and location. Belgravia Foundation strives to elevate YouMeUs and has plans to incorporate more features in future such as video learning modules further supporting the leisure sector in their knowledge, understanding and confidence to welcome underrepresented communities. Read more about YouMeUs today at: https://lnkd.in/gBa37QqU

For our fourth story, we are reflecting on the success of a significant swimming and water safety initiative from Sydney’s southwest. In collaboration with Afghan Women on the Move (AWOTM), Belgravia Leisure and Liverpool City Council, Belgravia Foundation is proud to support the delivery of a life-changing water safety program for local Afghan refugee women. For many of these women, swimming is a new opportunity. Fleeing a landlocked, war-torn country, these women have often been unable to access water-based education. This free program offers participants swim lessons as well as the chance to build confidence in the water, while equipping them with essential skills for their own safety and the safety of their families. Run across Belgravia Leisure operated facilities in the Liverpool region, the program provides 20 women with two sessions a week for 10 weeks. Funded by Belgravia Foundation and Liverpool City Council’s Reverse Vending Machine, the program continues to be highly sought after, continuously expanding to give even more women in the community this new opportunity. Through impactful program partnerships like these, Belgravia Foundation continues its commitment to inclusivity and community empowerment, providing opportunities for all, regardless of background or circumstance. Read more about the program here: https://lnkd.in/gN9ui_CV

Our third story is a celebration of our recent partnership with Ending Loneliness Together (ELT) as a gold sponsor for Loneliness Awareness Week (LAW) 2024. Loneliness is a critical issue and is recognised as a public health priority for many countries around the world. In fact, new research has revealed that 1 in 3 Australians from all walks of life feel lonely, and 1 in 4 experience persistent loneliness. However, despite being highly prevalent, loneliness isn’t widely understood or spoken about in Australia. In partnership with Belgravia Foundation and ELT, Belgravia Leisure managed venues including Keilor East Leisure Centre, Ascot Vale Leisure Centres, Yarra Centre and Monbulk Aquatic Centre participated in LAW by running a series of events to help shine a spotlight on the shared experience of connection through leisure centre environments. Pleasingly, data collected through LAW at participating Belgravia Leisure venues confirmed their positive impact for people who attend and visit these venues. The Yarra Ranges programs have shown remarkable success, with 100% of participants stating that the programs helped them meet new people, fostering social growth and reducing isolation. Additionally, 86% of Yarra Valley program participants said they felt a stronger sense of belonging through their involvement in the community. These results have affirmed how the leisure sector is uniquely placed to combat loneliness. By supporting and connecting with community through participation and employment, the leisure sector can foster opportunities for people to build friendship as well as a sense of togetherness and belonging. Learn more about the outcomes here: https://lnkd.in/g7nwNhx9

The second story to add to our list of favourites is Belgravia Foundation’s Take Charge program at Yarra Centre.    Following a Community Network Forum hosted at the Yarra Centre in the Yarra Ranges, the local team identified that young people in Upper Yarra required additional efforts in support of positive mental health strategies. Based on this feedback, the team at Yarra Centre adapted their current Take Charge program which is traditionally hosted in-venue to explore a mixed-model with some sessions based at the young peoples school and some at the community leisure centre.    These innovative adaptations listened to the needs of young people and as a result improved the participation rates of the program. With increased participation came improved outcomes and sustainable engagement, with many participants joining the gym at the completion of the program.     Due to the program success, Yarra Centre has formed new partnerships with local schools and grown the program substantially over 2024.    Learn more about this program here: https://lnkd.in/gFEvD_2A  

To begin our 12 days of stories series, we are reflecting on one of our biggest fundraisers of the year in which we partnered with Belgravia Leisure operated leisure facilities across ACT and the Canberra community. The Canberra community were challenged to collectively achieve 10,000 active minutes of participation over a weekend in March, to raise money through Belgravia Foundation to support those in the community who currently miss out on the opportunity to participate. A total of 1,200 community members rallied together to reach their goal and achieved an impressive 79,000 minutes of activity. The community’s efforts were rewarded. Mat Pole, Belgravia Leisure Area Manager mentioned “As promised, we’ll be donating $10,000 to Belgravia Foundation to support improved access and participation in swimming, aquatic activities and water safety among the underrepresented communities of ACT”. These donations later went on to support The Refugee Migrant Swim Program within the ACT leisure facilities, which provided subsided swim lessons and water safety education ahead of summer. Read more about the story here: https://lnkd.in/gCYadkv8

This holiday season we are excited to share some of our favourite memories from 2024 including important milestones, impactful initiatives and invaluable partnerships that have helped elevate our purpose to welcome, support and include all to ensure no one misses out on the opportunity to be happy and healthy. Join us for a year in review by celebrating our collective achievements, with our 12 days of good news stories! #12DaysOfStories #BelgraviaFoundation

Since its launch, the YouMeUs Program by Belgravia Foundation has made incredible progress in promoting disability inclusion and raising awareness in our communities. With over 12,000 participants trained, this program equips people to better understand and interact with individuals with disability. Some of the key program highlights to date include: ✅The average participant score for the statement "my knowledge of inclusive practices in leisure centres has improved" is 88.65 out of 100. ✅The average participant score for the statement "I now feel better able to welcome and support people with a disability in the leisure centre I work" is 88.41 out of 100 ✅93.47% of participants found it helpful to move through the training at their own pace. ✅92.05% of participants valued the flexibility of completing the training at a convenient time. ✅91.34% of participants found the Certificate of Completion a valuable aspect of the program. The YouMeUs program continues to make a lasting impact in promoting inclusive practices and fostering a sense of belonging within communities. Learn more about the YouMeUs program today at: https://lnkd.in/gBa37QqU

Belgravia Foundation, in collaboration with Belgravia Leisure, Moonee Valley City Council and Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria (BSRV), is proud to announce a new initiative aimed at making aquatic programs more inclusive! Launching December, the AAA Swim and Social Program will introduce specialised sessions designed for blind and low-vision participants. To ensure an exceptional experience, up to 30 MOVE Moonee Valley staff members will receive Visualised Awareness Training. Thanks to grant funding, this essential training will be provided at no cost. Staff will learn about common eye conditions, effective communication techniques, the importance of verbal descriptions, and best practices for supporting individuals with vision impairments in recreational activities. The AAA Swim and Social Program embodies MOVE Moonee Valley's dedication to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the benefits of the aquatic programs. Read more about the program here today: https://lnkd.in/dkHWxfK2

Belgravia Foundation and Knox Leisureworks Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Victoria are proud to celebrate the success of the recent Canvas and Cuppa event, blending creativity, mindfulness and social connection to support mental health. Attendees praised the relaxing, inclusive atmosphere and the opportunity to express themselves through art. The event offered a safe space for participants and helped promote mental wellbeing through mindful activities. The event was well received and the attendees gave a rating out of 10 based on their experience and how they found the event. The event earned an average rating of 8.9 out of 10. Belgravia Foundation and Knox Leisureworks were excited to announce a second ‘Express Yourself’ event, which was held on October 10th for World Mental Health Day. This event continued promoting the importance of mental wellbeing by integrating art therapy, focusing on the connection between an active mind and physical health. Discover more about the Canvas and Cuppa event here: https://lnkd.in/gvsrRxev