Social enterprise grant backs Palmwoods’ Calmer Kids

A Sunshine Coast health and wellbeing service will expand its program online thanks to a Palaszczuk Government Social Enterprise Growth Grant.

Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton said Calmer Kids offers educational support and resources designed to give children, parents, teachers and early educators the tools to apply mindfulness practice to everyday life.

“With classes running in Buderim, Bokarina and Palmwoods, Calmer Kids is much-loved on the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Skelton said.

“They help kids centre and connect to themselves and the world around them, which is a good lesson to learn young.

“Social enterprises like this are community assets and I’m proud that the Palaszczuk Government is backing them.”

"We're thrilled to be able extend our services and support to children, families and educators far and wide," said teacher Michelle Cole, who co-founded the social enterprise in 2019 with her sister Helen Boniface, a yoga and mindfulness teacher.

"We will be expanding our online resources to include a website with in-built training, so more people can learn and teach well-being and self-care strategies to children.

"Our goal is to support young people to develop the ability and tools to navigate through life's challenges in a healthy way, which is something so important with all that is going on in the world right now."

Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said 30 organisations have shared in more than $635,000 to grow their operations and goodwill.   

“Social enterprises are businesses that address social, cultural and environmental challenges and invest their profits towards that purpose,” Minister Farmer said.

“We announced our $8 million Social Enterprise Jobs Fund earlier this year to grow the sector and create jobs as part of Queensland’s Economic Recovery Plan.

“Under this Fund, the Growth Grants will support a whole range of projects creating genuine social impact, including recycling clean plastic waste from hospitals and training inmates in graphic design to reduce recidivism.

“Funded organisations can invest in things like new equipment, training or strategic advice and website improvements to scale up or adapt their operations.”

The Palaszczuk Government released the Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy in 2019, designed to build capability and capacity, make connections across the sector and improve market access.

For more information on support available for social enterprises visit the Business Queensland website: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/ or call 1300 369 935. 

ENDS

Media contact:       Ben Brew      0468 839 551