Brewing Thrive Café Through Fundraising and Community Partnerships

In early December, Mai-Wel was proud to partner with the Newcastle Business Club and Business Hunter as charity partners for their end-of-year events. These partnerships helped raise vital funds to support the establishment of our new social enterprise, Thrive Café, set to launch in 2026 at our Maitland site.

Thrive Café is being developed as a purpose-led initiative that will provide people with disability with hands-on training, work experience and employment in a real café environment. Participants will build practical skills in hospitality, customer service and communication, while working towards accredited training and genuine pathways into open employment.

Possibility is Brewing at Thrive Café

Thrive Café is designed to be more than a workplace. It will be a supportive training environment where participants can build real-world skills, confidence and independence in a customer-facing setting. The café will play an important role in creating long-term employment opportunities and strengthening community connection through inclusive hospitality.

Fundraising with the Newcastle Business Community

On 2 December, Mai-Wel joined the Newcastle Business Club for their annual Christmas Luncheon, where we connected with businesses from across the region and shared the vision for Thrive Café. Funds were raised through a Christmas Bauble Raffle and live auction, made possible by the generosity of local businesses who donated prizes and experiences.

The enthusiasm and support shown by the business community on the day was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when local organisations come together for a shared purpose.

We were also delighted to partner with Business Hunter as their charity partner, further strengthening relationships across the business community and contributing additional fundraising support toward the Thrive Café project.

A Strong Blend of Support from Local Sponsors

A very special acknowledgement goes to Titan Group, our Platinum Sponsor, for their outstanding commitment to Mai-Wel and the Thrive Café initiative. Their support has been both generous and deeply impactful, extending beyond a single event to include direct funding for Thrive Café and an ongoing annual sponsorship of Mai-Wel. This partnership is playing a critical role in enabling the café to move from concept to reality.

We also sincerely thank Maffey Property Services for their generous donation and ongoing pay it forward commitment, which will directly support Thrive Café once operational and reflects their strong alignment with Mai-Wel’s values.

Turning Fundraising into Opportunity

Together, these partnerships have enabled us to raise significant funds that will go directly toward establishing the Thrive Café space. These contributions are helping turn an idea into a place of opportunity, learning and meaningful employment for people in our community.

Every dollar raised supports not only the physical development of the café, but also the future pathways it will create for participants who want to gain real skills in a supportive and inclusive environment.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Supporters

We extend our sincere thanks to every donor, sponsor and supporter who contributed to these events. Whether through financial contributions, prize donations, sponsorship, or simply showing up and backing the cause, your support has played a vital role in bringing Thrive Café closer to reality.

The generosity shown by our business community has been truly inspiring, and the impact of this support will be felt for many years through the opportunities created for people with disability. We are deeply grateful to every organisation and individual who stood alongside Mai-Wel to help make this possible.

Glandore Wines, Moonshadow – TQC Cruises, NSW Swifts, Rydges Newcastle, CoastXP, Harvey Norman, Rydges Resort Hunter Valley, Hunt Hospitality, NSW Waratahs, Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety, Heart Human Resources, Veriu Group | Veriu Hotels & Suites | Punthill Apartment Hotels, Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites, Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Hunter (Newcastle, Maitland & Thornton), Balloon Aloft, Crystalbrook Kingsley, voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley, Adamstown Bowling Club, Industrial Gaskets & Sealants, Michael Maffey, Titan Group, Newcastle Racecourse, Newcastle Jets Football Club, Clarendon Hotel, The Farmer’s Wife Distillery, Agada Hair Studio, Pants Off Distillery, Clae Studio, Brontee Meditation, Boydell’s, Alice’s Cottages, Follo Stay + Experience, Tyrrell’s Wine