Branches unite to address youth homelessness
Every night there are more than 26,000 youth aged 12-25 homeless in Australia either sleeping rough on the street, or couch surfing – the most common form of Australian youth homelessness.
To address this issue at a local level, 60 Bendigo Bank branches have partnered with Cotton On Group’s The Unite Project selling bottled water to raise funds that will help break the cycle of homelessness in Australia’s second largest city.
A $2 bottle of The Unite Project Nu Pure spring water supports charities addressing the four issues identified as major contributors to youth homelessness; domestic violence, mental health, drug and alcohol addiction, and poverty.
The Unite Project is a collaboration piece born from the Cotton On Group and supported by a number of forward thinking, socially active Australian companies who are united and committed in the fight against youth homelessness in Australia. Bendigo Bank is the latest company to join this fight with a mission to end youth homelessness in Australia
Bendigo Bank Executive, Local Connection Alex Tullio said this latest partnership is another example of the Bank’s commitment to directly address issues in the community.
"The statistics clearly show that this is an issue needing meaningful action. To date, The Unite Project has raised almost $400,000 and assisted 850 young people. But as a Bank, we know we can do more.
"Selling The Unite Project Nu Pure water in 60 branches throughout Melbourne allows us to have a direct impact on youth experiencing homelessness at this time.
"We invite the public to purchase a bottle of water in branch and be part of the solution at a local level," Ms Tullio said.
Sam McGuane, Manager Cotton On Group - Community, echoes Ms Tullio’s comments.
"This initiative with the Bendigo Bank is something that we are both very proud of and excited about.
"The possibility to take a socially conscious product like The Unite Project’s water range into their branches is an opportunity that we have worked hard to ensure is one that makes a difference to young people experiencing homelessness," Mr McGuane said.
The Unite Project Nu Pure water is now available to purchase in the following branches:
- Ashburton
- Balwyn
- Blackburn South
- Box Hill
- Brighton
- Broadmeadows
- Camberwell
- Canterbury
- Carlton
- Carolyn Springs
- Carrum Downs
- Cheltenham
- Coburg
- Cranbourne
- Dandenong
- Docklands
- Elsternwick
- Elwood
- Ferntree Gully
- Flemington
- Frankston
- Glen Waverly
- Greensborough
- Hastings
- Healesville
- Heathmont
- Heidelberg
- Highett
- Kew East
- Koo Wee Rup
- Lang Lang
- Lilydale
- Marriott Waters
- Melbourne CBD
- Melton
- Moonee Ponds
- Mornington
- Mt Eliza
- My Evelin
- Mt Martha
- Narre Warren South
- Niddrie
- Ormond
- McKinnon
- Pearcedale
- Preston
- Ringwood East
- Rowville
- Seddon
- South Melbourne
- South Morang
- Sunshine
- Surrey Hills
- Tooradin
- Wandin Seville
- Wantirna
- Werribee
- Williamstown
- Windsor
- Woori Yallock
More about The Unite Project:
The Cotton On Group’s The Unite Project raises funds and partners with charities who are working on the front line of youth homelessness in Australia. We focus on supporting charities that address four issues that have been identified as major contributors to youth homelessness: domestic violence, mental health issues, drug and alcohol addiction and poverty.
