Christmas has come early for locals in need

Mayor Wendy Waller (right) and Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections CEO Pat Hall celebrate the delivery of a new ute.

Christmas has come early for the many locals who participate in Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections’ life-changing skills development and employment programs.

A new ute has been delivered to the Warwick-Farm based organisation, purchased from $46,000 in funds raised at the 2018 Liverpool City Council Charity Ball, which will transport people and goods to skills development workshops and excursions.

“Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections provide hundreds of people each year, the majority of them women, with opportunities to break the cycle of generational unemployment,” Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said. “They also support new migrants and refugees to gain work skills so they have a leg up in building their new lives here in our growing city.”

“Council is incredibly proud to have worked alongside local businesses and generous members of the community to raise $46,000 for Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections, helping the organisation purchase this vehicle to support their program delivery for those in need.”

Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections CEO Pat Hall said the new vehicle would be of great benefit.

“The delivery of this new ute feels like an early Christmas present for the Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections team and program participants,” Ms Hall said.

“We will now have additional capacity to move goods and people to our various social services throughout Liverpool and transport more people to and from workshops and excursions.

“I am incredibly grateful to Liverpool City Council, Charity Ball sponsors and the many people who attended or donated. It fills me with great pride to be part of a community that is so willing to do its bit for those in need.”

Mayor Waller said other organisations could now apply to be the fundraising recipient for next year’s Charity Ball.

“Council is now planning the 2019 Charity Ball,” Mayor Waller said. “Liverpool-based organisations can submit an Expression of Interest to become the fundraising recipient.”

Interested organisations need to visit www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/charityballeoi and complete the Charity Ball fundraising Expression of Interest form by Sunday 6 January 2019.

Charity Ball sponsors and partners included Inglis Riverside Stables, Daikin, South Western Sydney Local Health District, the University of Wollongong, Your Family Dentist Liverpool, OCS Fun, C91.3FM, Crystal Productions, Signarama Liverpool, Ben Williams Photography, Simplicity Funerals, Acai Brothers Liverpool, Monica Rose Creations and Wheely Gourmet.