What is the Project?
Behind The Grind is a community based coffee cup venture to raise awareness on domestic and gender-based violence. Local businesses from Coledale to Wollongong have teamed up with the BTG team and SAHSSI Womens Refuge, to stock and distribute themed takeaway coffee cups.
How does it work?
Four women who have been victimised by domestic violence and have found the strength and support to turn their lives around, have shared their stories. Their journeys have been translated into ART on coffee cups
In March 2019, participating local coffee hot spots stocked the designs in small size, takeaway, recyclable coffee cups. The project began in the northern suburbs of the Gong (Coledale, Austinmer, Bulli) and, each week, progressively moved south, ending in Wollongong. For a full list of partner cafes check out “Participating Business”.
At the end of the month, a donation from the cafes was accepted, but not obligatory. The donation went to SAHSSI Women’s refuge – a not for profit organisation based in Wollongong.
After this successful pilot project, the community responded enthusiastically, and the ball is still rolling.
The local event calendar in 2020 will see the coffee cups stocked at WIN entertainment centre in the heart of Wollongong, Earthwalker Café in the northern suburb of Coledale, Broken Drum Café in the growing hub of Fairy Meadow and Flat White with one in Russell Vale. The cups can also found at Wollongong Court House.
Why coffee cups?
Most people think they ‘don’t have time for charity’ or they ‘don’t have money for charity’–What we all have time for, rain hail or shine, is a delicious pick me up, in a cup.
Using coffee cups as a vehicle allows you to be part of the process without incurring additional fees or detouring from your ‘morning ritual’. By just going about your day, you are still helping to improve community awareness around domestic and gender based violence.
And…you get to enjoy the pretty cup while you learn about the bigger picture.
Who are we supporting?
SAHSSI—Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra
SAHSSI are a not-for-profit registered organisation with a particular affinity for helping women and their children who are affected by domestic and family violence.
The SAHSSI strategic vision is a community where all people live safely, independently and free from abuse. To promote this vision, SAHSSI is committed to increasing awareness and identification of domestic and family violence.
On any given night, SAHSSI can support up to 210 vulnerable women in the community and provide crisis support for over 100. The service is operational 24 hours per day and they work closely with NSW Police and Accident and Emergency Services to aid in the resolution of domestic and family violence.
Through their service, SAHSSI aim to not only support women through their crisis phase, but to introduce them to a support network that empowers them and restores their autonomy for the future.
