Generous ACT Law Society donation very timely as demand for help continues to rise during COVID crisis

Raw Potential Canberra Chairman, Paul Kane has expressed his gratitude at the generous and timely donation announced by the ACT Law Society as the rise in the number of at-risk young people continues as a result of the current COVID situation.

The ACT Law Society has announced a donation of just over fifteen thousand dollars fundraised for Raw Potential Canberra.

“Each year, the Law Society President has the privilege of identifying a local charity aligned with the Society’s values to focus our fundraising efforts towards,” said ACT Law Society President Elizabeth Carroll. “We are incredibly proud that this year we are able to contribute more than $15,000 to our 2021 President’s Charity, Raw Potential Canberra.”

“Raw Potential is a local Canberra charity empowering disadvantaged youth by providing non-judgemental support and opportunities for a bright future, and we see many synergies between their work and the Society’s advocacy focus on raising the age of criminal responsibility in the ACT.

“Our main fundraising events for the President’s Charity are held as part of ACT Law Week each May. Law Week has been held annually in the ACT since the 1990s, with the Society coordinating six days of events to promote public understanding of the law and its role in society.

“This year, ACT Law Week raised just over ten thousand dollars from the generous contributions of members of the local legal profession, and the support of our volunteers and the wider legal sector.

“In addition to the Law Week profits, our annual President’s Charity also receives a disbursement from the ACT Law Society Foundation.”

The ACT Law Society Foundation was established in 2012 as a Centenary of Canberra project as an enduring expression of the ACT legal profession’s connection with, and concern and support for, Canberra and its charities and worthy causes. The Foundation continues to grow each year from direct donations as well as receiving half of all Law Week profits.

In handing over the funds to Raw Potential Canberra Chairman, Ms. Carroll said, “On behalf of the ACT Law Society, it is with great pleasure that I present our donation of $15,231 to Raw Potential Canberra.  Their services to local at-risk youth are under incredible pressure in the current climate, and it’s heartening to know that this money will allow Raw Potential to add another part-time outreach worker.”

Raw Potential Canberra Chairman, Paul Kane, said, “We are extremely grateful for the generous support of the ACT Law Society members and the ACT Law Society Foundation in choosing to support Raw Potential this year.

“Nobody could have imagined that we would be living through the times we have been experiencing in 2020 and 2021 and this has placed even greater burden and hardship on so many people in our community, and particularly those at-risk young people who we are seeking to help.

“We have been so heartened by the generosity and goodwill of so many in our community who think way beyond themselves to help the less fortunate.   This support provided through the ACT Law Society is very timely as the board of Raw Potential Canberra has recently committed to providing additional resources to our outreach program to help our at-risk young people.

“An additional warmth that comes from this donation from the ACT Law Society is that Raw Potential Canberra, formerly known as YouthCARE Canberra, was co-founded by former ACT Supreme Court, Chief Justice, Terrence Higgins, AO.   Justice Higgins saw the need for helping young people at risk of falling through the cracks and therefore this is a very poignant connection.

“On behalf of the Raw Potential Canberra board and our wonderful program delivery partners at Woden Community Services, I want to thank all members of the ACT legal fraternity for their great support.   I know the young people who will benefit from the support would also be saying thank-you”, concluded Mr. Kane.