Supported with a grant of $355,000 over five years, The Social Studio is a not-for-profit social enterprise. The Social Studio uses the vehicle of a fashion business to work with refugee and migrant young people to develop skills and confidence, and pathways to education, training and employment.

The Sidney Myer Fund’s grant is not directed to one part of The Social Studio’s work or another. Rather it is designed to provide flexibility and to be directed to whatever part of The Social Studio’s operations that their management determines is the priority.

Dewi Cooke, CEO of The Social Studio says "For small not-for-profit organisations like ours, funding is a near-constant challenge and source of stress. Opportunities for operational funding are limited and hotly contested, so to have received such support from the Sidney Myer Fund was hugely significant, especially in the middle of a pandemic.

The funding has given us the flexibility to plan beyond the next grants cycle and has also reassured us that our mission (to provide refugees and new migrants work and learning opportunities in the creative industries) is worthy not only to us – it is valued by the broader community, too."