Lotterywest grant to help Short Back & Sidewalks expand

(L-R) Tim Marney, Craig Hollywood, Minister John Carey and Natalie Jenkins.

Short Back & Sidewalks (SBSW) has received a Lotterywest grant of $180,000 to help expand operations to regional Western Australia.

WA Homelessness Minister Hon. John Carey presented SBSW with its first ever Lotterywest grant, saying he looks forward to continuing to see the impact the service has on those who need it most.

“Short Back & Sidewalks is kicking goals by engaging and empowering people through the transformational power of a haircut,” said Minister Carey.

“Through their service, they are creating positive connections with vulnerable and marginalised community members to build a stronger and more inclusive community.”

The WA Government, through Lotterywest, supports community projects to help build a better WA. The $180,000 grant will fund a two-year organisational development project to help reduce vulnerability and disadvantage across WA. CEO Natalie Jenkins said SBSW receiving its first Lotterywest grant is a “significant moment.”

“This grant will assist us to expand our operations regionally throughout WA and provide important resources for our volunteer team,” she said. 

“We are very grateful to Lotterywest for seeing the value in what we do and enabling us to deliver more haircuts, free of charge and free of judgment, to those who need it.”

SBSW founder Craig Hollywood said it was poignant to have Minister Carey present the grant as he was one of the first to recognise the power of the work SBSW does.

“Receiving this from Minister Carey was special in many different ways,” he said.

“We look forward to the positive impact that will be made to those in need by this Lotterywest grant.”

Short Back & Sidewalks aim is to give 15,000 free haircuts and positive community connections per year by 2025.