Youth Off The Streets uses container deposit refunds to fight youth homelessness
Leading not-for-profit youth services organization partners with the New South Wales deposit return scheme, raising over AU$120,000 for young people, their families and communities to create safety, offer support and provide pathways to a positive future.
Between May and November 2023, the Youth Off The Streets fundraising appeal aimed to raise over AU$100,000 and recycle one million drink containers in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). To achieve this goal, people across the state were encouraged to donate their deposit refunds when they returned their eligible empty drink containers to a TOMRA reverse vending machine for recycling.
Supporting homeless and disadvantaged young people
Australia’s 2021 Census found that almost 25% of Australians experiencing homelessness are children and young people aged between 12 and 24. In 2022, almost 40,000 young people in this age group sought help from homelessness services in Australia. Homelessness can have serious and long-term impacts on young people as they are at high risk of becoming disconnected from school, employment and crucial support networks.
Since being founded by Father Chris Riley three decades ago, Youth Off The Streets has grown from a single food van to an organization delivering a range of support services for young people in need. These include homelessness and housing services, independent high schools, counselling for alcohol and other drugs, youth justice support, life-skills programs, cultural support, community outreach and more. Youth Off The Streets focuses on strengths-based strategies that empower young people and strengthen our communities.
Youth Off The Streets CEO, Judy Barraclough, said the organization relies on the generosity of the public to help provide crisis support and other essential services for vulnerable young people.
Making every container count
Youth Off The Streets joined forces in NSW with Return and Earn to raise money for vulnerable young Australians. In the Return and Earn deposit return system, consumers pay a 10-cent deposit on their drink, which is refunded to them when they return the empty drink container for recycling. TOMRA, in a joint venture with Cleanaway (Australia’s leading waste management company), is the network operator for the NSW deposit return scheme.
When returning their containers to a TOMRA reverse vending machine (RVM), the public could choose to donate their refund to Youth Off The Streets direct from the RVM screen, or via the Return and Earn app powered by TOMRA.
The demand for our services is soaring, and we rely on the compassion and generosity of the community through schemes like Return and Earn to help provide support to young people in need.
CEO of scheme coordinator Exchange for Change, Danielle Smalley, described the partnership as an important way of delivering both social and environmental benefits through recycling. “Return and Earn is a hugely successful initiative in NSW and fundraising through the scheme can make an important contribution to Youth Off The Streets,” she said.
Exceeding the fundraising goals
During National Recycling Week (13-19 November), the NSW Government was proud to announce that, thanks to the generosity of recyclers, more than $120,000 was raised for Youth Off The Streets.
In just over six months, an incredible 1.2 million bottles, cans and cartons were returned, with 100% of the deposit refunds donated supporting Youth Off The Streets’ mission to help vulnerable young people.
“We’re thrilled with the overwhelming support and generosity that NSW recyclers have shown Youth Off The Streets throughout the Return and Earn campaign,” said Judy Barraclough.
Every 10-cent refund donated will go towards programs and services that truly make a difference to the lives of children and young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and disadvantage.
The success of this fundraising appeal demonstrates the importance of individual actions in creating positive change – with every bottle recycled contributing to recycling and every donation going to a good cause.
Previous deposit return scheme fundraising appeals in Australia
Recyclers donate containers to animals in need
"Bottles Can Change Lives" gives support during Covid-19
"Bottles for the Bush" aids communities during drought and bushfires
