Who Gives - Mandy Miles

Campaign Crusader – Mandy Miles, Honorary CEO, Make A Difference

From working as a scullery maid in London looking after a 95-year-old woman and her 65-year-old daughter to winning a Commendation for Brave Conduct for rescuing two elderly people from a burning house, Mandy Miles has turned caring for the vulnerable and needy into a career.

Mandy completed a social work degree in 1980 and for the next 20 years specialised in out-of-home care for children and those with mental health issues and addictions.

Launching her organisation, Make a Difference, in 2000 was just a logical extension for the well-travelled Sydney sider.

Make A Difference provides support and assistance to children and their families living in poverty in Sydney. It is a place of last resort, only becoming involved when all other avenues for help and support have been exhausted.

“We then help in a substantial way with the aim, in most cases, of partnering with the family until they have resolved the problem or series of problems that led to their crisis,” Mandy says.

“This may involve a long-term commitment to some families. We provide mentoring to assist with problem-solving as well as substantial financial resourcing aimed at achieving change, so that the future can be different from the past for the child or family.”

The organisation is largely funded through contributions from directors, who also work as volunteers to support the clients.

“Our service is effective in assisting people to create a whole new beginning for themselves, and an exciting and hopeful future. I don’t know of any other service like it. It is an irony that we are not likely to qualify for funding from many sources,” Mandy says.