Valued community partners, Club Parramatta and Castle Hill RSL Club (both part of the Castle Hill RSL Group), have generously donated over $125,000 in ClubGRANTS funding this year, supporting Learning Links to provide critical education and wellbeing programs for children in their community in North West Sydney. This funding will go directly towards initiatives designed to equip young learners with the skills and support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
With this generous contribution, Learning Links will be able to run a broad range of impactful programs to reach even more children across local schools in the area. These programs include:
- Reading for Life® – helping children strengthen literacy skills, self confidence and build a lifelong love of reading.
- Assessments in Schools – offering comprehensive assessments for children facing difficulties that guide tailored learning plans for each child.
- Confidence Little Communicators program – providing targeted oral language support for students in years K-2 to help them build the foundation skills for success.
- Disadvantaged Children’s Education Fund – offering financial support for children in need, who would not otherwise be able to access the vital learning, communication or wellbeing programs they need to thrive.
The Resilient Kids Program
One of the most exciting outcomes of the funding we have received from the Castle Hill RSL Group this year is the inclusion of Learning Links’ Resilient Kids Program. This specialised program is designed to equip children with the social and emotional tools necessary to manage the complexities of growing up in today’s world. Children can be exposed to traumatic experiences and/or circumstances within their home, online or in the community. Childhood exposure to trauma can have a range of physical, emotional and social consequences that can affect a child’s learning and development. The consequences may be long-lasting and may also increase the risk of the child experiencing and/or using unhealthy, violent and inappropriate coping strategies in the future, which perpetuates the issue in the community. To support the local community and reach children and families who may be at risk, Learning Links will deliver evidence-based programs and whole-community supports through the Resilience Kids Program to support both their mental health and their interpersonal relationships. This will be delivered through:
- Psychological support for overall wellbeing and mental health: both group and individual support to address mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, that are affecting students’ life and learning. Helping children reduce stress in a healthy way, can significantly improve their overall sense of wellbeing and engagement in school.
- Emotional regulation and resilience: children are taught how to identify, understand, and manage their emotions, empowering them to navigate challenging situations with confidence. These skills are fundamental in helping children build resilience, enabling them to bounce back from setbacks, cope with stress, and adapt positively to changes in their environment.
- Social skills and relationship building: supports are designed to foster positive social interactions, teaching children how to communicate effectively, empathise with others, and build meaningful relationships. These skills are crucial for fostering a sense of belonging and creating supportive friendships that will carry them through school and beyond.
To create a well-rounded support system, the Resilient Kids Program also includes teacher capacity building initiatives, offering professional learning orkshops for local teachers. Led by Learning Links’ psychologists, these interactive sessions cover crucial topics such:
- Impacts of trauma on learning
- Identifying and supporting anxiety and depression in children and adolescents
- Building student resilience
- Engaging disconnected parents
By deepening teachers’ understanding of these issues, the program equips them to better support students who face adversity, fostering a more inclusive and nurturing classroom environment.
Making a Lasting Difference for Local Children
Thanks to the generous funding received, Learning Links will be able to reach up to 100 children in the local community through the Resilient Kids Program alone, and up to another 100 through our other program offerings. This expanded reach means that many more children in the area will benefit from the vital programs offered by Learning Links, receiving the guidance, support, and tools they need to succeed both in the classroom and in everyday life.
Learning Links is proud to partner with Club Parramatta and Castle Hill RSL Club to create a brighter future for children. Together, we’re building a foundation that fosters lifelong learning, resilience, and positive growth.