Youth Off The Streets invites cafés to turn Australia's coffee culture into support for vulnerable young people

Youth Off The Streets is calling on cafés across Australia to put their coffee machines to work for vulnerable young people, with its 2026 Cup of Kindness campaign kicking off on International Coffee Day, 1 October.

The concept is simple. Participating venues donate $1 from every coffee sold during their nominated period to Youth Off The Streets, helping fund crisis accommodation, outreach programs and support for young people experiencing homelessness and complex disadvantage. Cafés can sign on for International Coffee Day alone, selected days during October, or the full month.

The need has rarely been greater. More than 43,000 young Australians experience homelessness each year, and demand for Youth Off The Streets' services has reached unprecedented levels amid cost-of-living pressures, housing instability, poor mental health and rising rates of domestic and family violence. The not-for-profit expects to support more than 2,000 children and young people through its intensive programs this year.

Youth Off The Streets CEO Judy Barraclough said coffee is often where support begins.

"When a young person visits one of our drop-in centres, one of the first things we often offer is a warm drink and a safe space to sit. Those simple moments help build trust, open important conversations and connect young people with the support they need," she said.

Free beans to get venues started

This year, Smith St Coffee Roasters has come on board as lead partner for the first time, donating the first $1,000 and helping rally the café sector behind the campaign. To lower the barrier to entry, venues can receive up to 3kg of complimentary coffee beans to support their fundraising, including cafés that aren't currently Smith St customers.

Smith St Coffee Roasters co-founder Ross Di Biasi said cafés are uniquely placed to make a difference.

"Cafés are at the heart of their local communities. They are places where people connect every day, which makes them a powerful force for good. We want to make it as easy as possible for cafés to take part in Cup of Kindness, even if they can only participate for one day," he said.

A call to café owners

For operators, it's a low-effort way to give back and give regulars a reason to choose your venue this October. Every dollar counts: just $5 can provide a warm meal through Youth Off The Streets' outreach programs, while $60 can fund an escape bag for a young person fleeing violence.

Café owners can register now at support.youthoffthestreets.com.au/cup-of-kindness.