Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Beneficiary - February 2005 Lifeboat Community Services Ltd

Street Watch Vehicle

Lifeboat Community Services program was originally developed by a small group of volunteers from the Charlestown Seventh-day Adventist Church, it has only been operational for the last 18 months and in this time it is estimated they have assisted in around 3000 cases. The primary role of Lifeboat is to provide counselling support and practical help for families and children in need and those recovering from substance abuse problems through the ‘Street Watch’ program. Street Watch is made up of volunteers working to provide advice and support to disadvantaged members of the community from the back of a car and mobile kitchen. They rely primarily on cash donations and volunteer support; an Op Shop was also opened last year to further assist the cash flow.

Based at Windale, a particularly problematic spot for anti social behaviour, the Lifeboat team are well known and regarded in the community. Lifeboat operates independently and without discrimination but does cooperate with the local police and Lake Macquarie City Council to try and reach as many people as possible. As well as providing help and advice for people in need, the Street Watch team aim to transform ‘hot spots’ into safer areas for the wider community by being seen as an accepted and regular presence on the street.

Due to the high demand for their invaluable services, Lifeboat have been requested to extend their operations over to the west side of the lake and up until February 2005, they operated out of 1988 Toyota Coaster Bus and a 1979 converted Millard caravan.

With the funding from the Charitable Foundation, they now own a brand new Toyota Landcruiser, which is capable of pulling the mobile kitchen or trailer full of equipment needed to run the Street Watch program.