The Huddle was established in 2010 as a not-for-profit initiative of the North Melbourne Football Club, the Scanlon Foundation and the Australian Multicultural Foundation, to improve social cohesion by identifying and addressing the causes of youth disengagement.
Primarily targeting young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds living in North Melbourne, Kensington, Flemington and West Melbourne, The Huddle engages, supports and empowers them to build on their strengths, increase their ability to participate in society and contribute to more socially inclusive communities.
Curriculum-based programs are developed and delivered by staff, volunteers, the North Melbourne playing group and young people from the community for all local primary and secondary schools, which celebrate Melbourne’s Indigenous and multicultural history and future. These programs empower young people through a range of initiatives in sport and recreation, education and careers, digital skills and civic participation.
The Huddle has now engaged more than 50,000 young people from culturally diverse backgrounds, with activities taking place in schools and at The Huddle’s state of the art classrooms in North Melbourne, which includes a study space where culturally and linguistically diverse students in years 10 and above are tutored by volunteers from the local area.