The Mutual Bank to pay rent for Carrie’s Place’s Cessnock support room

newy.com.au – The Mutual Bank will cover the annual rent for Carrie’s Place’s client support room in Cessnock under an expanded partnership aimed at directing more money to frontline assistance.

The room provides a local place for women, children and families to speak to specialist staff, receive immediate assistance and connect with other services. Carrie’s Place said the rental funding would free resources for practical help, including food and fuel vouchers for people facing hardship.

“When someone is experiencing violence or homelessness, knowing there is a safe place nearby where they will be heard, believed and supported can be the first step towards a safer future,” Carrie’s Place interim chief executive Claire Yeatman said.

The Mutual Bank chief member officer Matthew Dunnill said the partnership was formed following the opening of the bank’s Vincent Street branch.

“By covering the cost of the Cessnock support room, we can help Carrie’s Place direct more funding to the people and families who need it, while building our own understanding of how to better support vulnerable customers.”

The rental commitment builds on the bank’s earlier sponsorship and Winter Appeal support. The appeal provides Carrie’s Place with food, personal hygiene items and winter supplies collected through the bank’s Hunter branch network.

Previous bank support also helped Carrie’s Place introduce tablets at its Community Hub. The organisation said the technology had improved client needs assessments and the secure handling of sensitive information as it moved towards paperless systems.

Established in 1979, Carrie’s Place provides domestic and family violence support for women, children and families, and homelessness services for women, men and families across the Hunter. Its work includes crisis support, outreach, safety planning, accommodation assistance and referrals.

The organisations said they would assess the partnership through the number of clients and dependent children supported, outreach delivered, practical assistance distributed and referrals made.