SVA dials up support for disadvantaged WA youth with new Dismantle venture philanthropy partnership

A new partnership in Western Australia between Social Ventures Australia (SVA) and Dismantle will see $150,000 invested into engaging and mentoring at-risk youth back into employment and education pathways through BikeRescue – an innovative bike mechanic and therapeutic support program.

Dismantle will be the second Western Australian venture in Social Ventures Australia’s Venture Philanthropy portfolio. SVA’s Venture Philanthropy services enable a community of engaged philanthropists to support high impact social ventures that improve the lives of people in need in Australia.

SVA’s partnership with Dismantle will focus on scaling the BikeRescue program into regional communities where issues such as youth suicide, anti-social behaviour and disengagement from education and employment are more prevalent than in metro areas:

  • Young people in regional and rural areas are 1.5-1.8x more likely to be at risk of suicide
  • 67% of students in regional areas complete year 12 compared to 77% average for WA

SVA will be supporting Dismantle over a three-year partnership, providing funding, capacity building support and connections to pro bono partners to enable Dismantle to develop BikeRescue into a social franchise using a ‘train-the-trainer’ delivery model – supporting Dismantle to more effectively scale across regional WA.

Dismantle supports disengaged young people (aged 12-17) through a 10-week bike outreach program (BikeRescue) that engages, mentors and inspires them back into employment and education pathways.

BikeRescue focusses on improving the social and emotional well-being of young people, while also building transferrable skills. It is run exclusively in partnership with youth service organisations, ensuring appropriate wrap-around support is available before, during and after the program.

Dismantle operates as a social enterprise, using proceeds from BikeDr, a mobile bike repair business to support BikeRescue, while also creating work experience and employment opportunities for BikeRescue graduates.

SVA CEO Rob Koczkar commented:

‘Dismantle is already having a profound impact in the Perth metro communities where programs have been in place for six years and we look forward to leveraging this impact and scaling their operations into regional and rural WA through an innovative expansion strategy.’

‘The success of Dismantle’s BikeRescue program to date has been largely due to their partnership approach and focus on supporting the young people to develop core skills including relationship building, problem solving and self-discovery’, he said.

Dismantle CEO Pat Ryan commented:

‘The partnership with SVA is providing us with the financial and professional support that will enable our youth programs to scale across WA and we look forward to creating social impact far greater than we could without SVA’s business and strategic investment.’

Also commenting, Simon Axworthy of the Azure Foundation, said:

‘SVA’s Venture Philanthropy approach is delivering real impact in the local community through its support of WA-based organisations. As a funder and pro bono partner, our partnership with SVA has also enabled us as an organisation to offer rewarding engagement opportunities for our employees by applying their commercial skills to supporting these great organisations.’

Commenting, Chris Webster of the Euroz Charitable Foundation, a new funder for SVA’s Venture Philanthropy portfolio, said:

‘We are looking forward to partnering with SVA and applying their venture philanthropy approach to ensuring our foundation is creating meaningful impact for WA. We have been highly impressed by the significant impact Dismantle has already had working with at-risk young people and look forward to supporting Dismantle to achieve greater outcomes for more young people across WA.’

Marking SVA’s second investment in WA, the Venture Philanthropy partnership with Dismantle was announced at an event in Perth, hosted by King & Wood Mallesons, on 5 April, where SVA’s funders and supporters from across the WA business, government and philanthropic community heard from:

  • Shiri Leventhal | Associate Director, WA Venture Philanthropy, SVA
  • Brooke Small | Studio Manager, Marnin Studio
  • Pat Ryan | CEO, Dismantle
  • Simon Axworthy | Azure Foundation
  • Rob Koczkar | CEO, SVA
  • Heath Lewis | Partner, KWM

SVA’s Venture Philanthropy partnership with Dismantle is partially funded and seeking additional funding and support. SVA welcomes interested parties to contact us to learn more about how you can partner with us to support Dismantle.

SVA has worked with 40 social ventures like Beacon Foundation, Ganbina, STREAT and AIME, and distributed more than $20 million to support their work, build capacity and develop high impact models. The focus areas include access to great education, pathways to fulfilling jobs, social and affordable housing, and working with First Australians. In WA, Marnin Studio was the first venture to join the portfolio.