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ACON and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF) have partnered to take over the Luncheon Club charity, which helps people living with, and affected by, HIV/AIDS.
After months of negotiations, ACON and BGF will operate the Monday and Wednesday luncheons, and the larder, which provides clients with basic food supplies from June 2.
Luncheon Club founder Carole Ann King (pictured above with volunteers and supporters) told SX she was “pleased to see that the clients are going to continue getting these services”.
“I hope for a smooth transition period,” she said.
King added that she is grateful for the help of volunteers, sponsors, donors and entertainers over the years.
“Everybody’s on board. It’s for the people of the Luncheon Club to embrace this change.”
The charity, founded in 1993, helps almost 50 people each week, with over 700 registered clients. Two months ago, King appealed to Sydney’s gay community for help to keep the charity afloat, after revealing that the organisation needed $150,000 annually to survive, with less than a third of its budget met by government.
Fundraising events and support from venues had been at an all-time low, King said. ACON and BGF have greater resources to help the “clients that are slipping through the cracks”, especially people with mental health problems, King said.
Bev Lange, BGF’s CEO, told SX that it wasn’t a difficult decision to make.
“It’s a great thing for BGF and ACON to partner on an important project such as this, and it will have long-term outcomes for the clients.”
Lange confirmed that the arrangement will be long-term, for at least three years, and that the same staff and volunteers will continue to operate the service.
“We’re not planning to change the services yet … we will engage someone to work a couple of days a week to oversee the Club.”
ACON CEO Stevie Clayton said she hoped current volunteers would stay on. “ACON will be drawing on the experience of the Positive Living Centre to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible, and of course we hope many of the current volunteers will continue.”
The service is particularly important since HIV can cause major episodic illness and social isolation, Clayton added.
“For many, a warm, nutritious meal in a friendly atmosphere can make all the difference.”
This week, the Luncheon Club received further community support from ARQ nightclub. Owner Shadd Danesi, along with Ken Holmes from Aussie Boys, presented King with a cheque for $6000 (pictured), the proceeds from ARQ’s Luncheon Club fundraiser a fortnight ago.
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