Patrons are a group of socially conscious individuals and businesses who are committed to lending a hand to the vulnerable people within our diverse community
Our Story
Patrons of New Farm was founded in 2011 when the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre was an independent social hub for people to meet and have a chat, join a range of activities and tap into local support services.
At the time, due to significant government cutbacks, this area suffered a serious lack of funding and as such Patrons was formed to provide crisis and urgent funding to support services, mental health and other necessary programs. This important need along with a wide variety of other help tapped into the community spirit to keep this essential service up and running.
In 2015 New Farm Neighbourhood Centre was acquired by Communify QLD, a small to medium sized NGO. This allowed for a shift in Patrons funding. No longer needed for day-to-day operational funding and instead able to be used to support the community directly through emergency relief and crisis funding- all of which goes directly to community members in need.
Patrons continue to support the NFNC Community Coffee program- a social enterprise delivering barista-made coffees to the community and supporting volunteers with disabilities and complex mental health to gain experience working as baristas.
Patrons also fund the NFNC pharmacy program in partnership with Ramsay Health, supporting vulnerable community members continued access to vital and sometimes life-saving medications.
Organisations we help
Below are just some of the organisations that Patrons help with strategic funding donations
Funds raised
Since 2011 the Patrons of New Farm have raised over $550,000 for worthy charities throughout New Farm, Fortitude Valley and Teneriffe. These funds have been raised through the annual donation of each Patron. We are aiming for $1.0 million – help us get there!
All funding allocated to a charity or an urgent case is approved by the Patrons committee so that you can be assured that your funds go directly to where they are needed.
Examples of Patron Support
Patrons’ funds are used on a case-by-case basis to pay for individuals’ specific and immediate needs through the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre and other charities throughout the New Farm Peninsula.
Some examples of our funding:
- Communify’s Coffee cart
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – Patrons covers the cost of this where required
- Assisting with one-off low cost rent shortfalls to prevent people losing their home
- Buying an essential item such as a fridge for people moving into a new tenancies
- GP’s costs for marginalised youth
Events
Patrons holds two social events per year at a local venue in New Farm/Teneriffe
and we love for you to come and join us
Fund Donation Enquiry
If you feel that you have a charity that may meet our criteria for a donation, please reach out to info@patronsofnewfarm.com or give us a call on 0478 734 517
The Cart
The Cart, the socially inclusive coffee hub at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre is an initiative of The Patrons and New Farm Neighbourhood Centre.
The Cart provides a place for people from different walks of life in our community to mingle amidst fabulous Merlo coffee.
Visitors to The Cart are invited to ‘pay it forward’ by shouting a coffee for someone in the community.
Acknowledgement of Country
We are committed to supporting reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australian people. In keeping with the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where Patrons work, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples. We wish to pay respect to the Elders – past and present – and acknowledge the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to play within our community.