The Resilience Camp is a weekend retreat designed for rainbow families (LGBTQ+ parents and their children). The camp offers a supportive environment where families can connect, relax, and build lasting friendships while participating in activities that foster resilience and community among people from similar families to their own. This weekend retreat is designed to support ...
Rainbow Families Australia
Rainbow Families Resilience Camp
GOAL
$20,000
Australia > National / Multi-state > Metro and Regional
Field of Interest
- Community and economic development
- Individual/family services and support
Target Population
- LGBTQIA+ people
- Early years (0-5)
Rainbow Families Australia
About Rainbow Families
We have a vision of a community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) families across Australia, where each family is included, respected and has value. Rainbow Families is the peak organisation supporting LGBTQ+ parents and their children. As a community organisation run by LGBTQ+ families, we act as a support network for parents and carers, their children as well as future parents and carers.
Our Mission
The mission of Rainbow Families is to build a community which fosters resiliency by connecting, supporting and empowering LGBTQ+ families.
What makes a Rainbow family?
A Rainbow family is a LGBTQ+ parented family. At Rainbow Families, we define a Rainbow family as any lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer person who has a child or children; or is planning on having a child or children by way of donor insemination (known or unknown), surrogacy (altruistic or commercial), foster care, fostering to adoption, adoption (domestic or international), previous relationship, co-parenting or other means.
What do we do?
We provide support and resources to members of the LGBTQ+ community so that they and their families can live their best and most colourful lives. We host events that connect LGBTQ+ families, particularly those that are feeling isolated because of social pressures, financial difficulty or where they live. We advocate on behalf of our community and are a strong and consistent voice for LGBTQ+ families to address discrimination, raise awareness and promote acceptance.
Project Summary
The Resilience Camp is a weekend retreat designed for rainbow families (LGBTQ+ parents and their children). The camp offers a supportive environment where families can connect, relax, and build lasting friendships while participating in activities that foster resilience and community among people from similar families to their own.
This weekend retreat is designed to support LGBTQ+ families, especially those in regional areas, by providing a safe and inclusive environment for connection and community building. Over the course of the weekend, participants engage in a variety of activities aimed at fostering resilience, strengthening family bonds, and promoting social connections among families with similar experiences.
The camp features a mix of structured workshops and free time, allowing families to participate in resilience-building activities, recreational opportunities, and social events. These activities are tailored to all age groups, ensuring that both children and adults can benefit from the experience.
The camp is particularly valued by families from regional areas, where opportunities to connect with other rainbow families are limited. In many cases, participants from regional/ rural contexts have never met another family parented by LGBTQ+ people.
By offering this camp, Rainbow Families seeks to address the isolation often felt by LGBTQ+ families, providing them with a unique opportunity to meet others who understand their experiences and challenges. The camp also serves as a vital support system, helping families to develop the relationship needed to navigate societal pressures and discrimination.
Funding will be used to subsidise the cost of attending camp for low income families.
Project Outcomes
Improved social interconnectedness - Participants will report increased connections and friendships with other LGBTQ+ families immediately following
the camp.
Greater resilience - Greater resilience over the short/midterm. Participants will demonstrate improved resilience in the face of challenges associated with being part of an LGBTQ+ family.
Greater community engagement - Participants will show sustained improvements to their sense of connectedness, self-worth, and belonging over the long term.
Greater resilience techniques - Participants will exit the camp in posses sion of new, concrete methods of coping with challenging circumstances and situations.
Funding is required to subsidise the cost of the camp for low income families. At past camps over 80% of attendees are supported through subsidised tickets.
Rainbow Families has run this program for the past 8 years in NSW, and now we are seeking funding to be able to offer this program to LGBTQ+ families in other states and territories.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $35,000
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ticket Sales | $10,000 |
| Rainbow Families | $5,000 |
| Funding Gap | $20,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Camp costs | $26,500 |
| Resilience workshops | $5,000 |
| Marketing and promotion | $1,000 |
| Coordination | $2,500 |
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