$5,000 Community Grant Awarded to Soul Hub Following Marketown’s National Marketing Win
Soul Hub, a not-for-profit dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable in Newcastle, has received a $5,000 grant from the Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA), nominated by Marketown Shopping Centre (owned by Region Group and managed by Knight Frank Australia).
The grant followed Marketown’s win in the Community (Small) category at the 2024 SCCA Marketing Awards for their standout initiative “Little Hands Wise Hearts – An Intergenerational Journey.”
The program, delivered in partnership with Montessori Academy and Anglican Care Newcastle, brought together pre-schoolers and aged care residents in weekly sessions filled with songs, stories, craft and connection. Each Thursday, residents from Scenic Lodge aged 84–95 joined children aged 3–5 from Montessori Academy for a heartwarming morning of learning and laughter. The result? Deeper community connection, mutual joy — and memories that will last a lifetime.
Kirby Rogers, Business and Operations Manager at SCCA, said:
“Shopping centres play an important role across the country. These awards allow us to highlight programs with meaningful community connections — and we’re proud to support Soul Hub’s continued impact.”
Erica Rees, Chief Operating Officer at Region Group, said:
“This initiative perfectly reflects our commitment to social responsibility. We’re proud of our Marketown team, our partners at Knight Frank for their leadership, and of Soul Hub for their ongoing work in helping people thrive.”
