City of Casey is offering grants for those looking to make a difference in their local community.
“At the City of Casey, we believe that supporting local groups and organisations is key to building a thriving community,” the council wrote.
“That’s why we are thrilled to offer approximately $365,000 in Community Grants of up to $5,000 each to assist with projects, programs, and events that benefit the community.
“We are so grateful for the hard work and dedication of Casey’s community organisations, and we want to do our part to help them succeed in building an even stronger, caring and more vibrant community.”
These grants are available to support innovative, high-quality activities that fall under one of the following categories: arts and culture, diversity and harmony, health, wellbeing and equity, and environmental sustainability.
Examples of what you could use the funding for include community and cultural events that celebrate diversity and inclusion, community programs that enhance community connection, social inclusion, and resilience, or programs and activities that encourage physical activity and active living.
City of Casey Chair of Administrators, Noelene Duff PSM said that Casey is also interested in funding innovative initiatives.
“We are looking for programs responding to health and wellbeing issues facing the Casey community, initiatives that help meet the digital needs of communities, and programs that promote sustainability through reducing waste, recovering or reusing resources or educating the community on sustainable living practices,” Ms Duff said.
In the 2022/23 round of community grants, City of Casey funded many deserving groups who are busy making a real difference in the community.
The Water Well Project was one such project, providing critical health education sessions to migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker communities.
Through their programs, they help bridge the gap between healthcare providers and those who may face barriers in accessing healthcare.
The Berwick Toy Library was also funded.
The You Library is a community-run service that provides local children with access to high-quality toys.
The community grant supported their purchase of new toys and the establishment of a new ‘stay and play’ room, which provides even more opportunities for children to learn and grow through play.
Another funded organisation in the 2022/23 round of grants was The Casey Rainbow Community, which supports the LGBTIAQ+ community through events, education, and advocacy.
The Al-Emaan Women Organisation, an inspiring group who run a CALD women’s sewing group, received funding to help provide women with a welcoming and supportive space to learn new skills and connect with others.
Other recipients included The Endeavour Hills Mens Shed and St John Ambulance.
To apply, groups must be able to demonstrate significant community support and develop a project plan highlighting the benefits of what they are proposing and create an itemised budget detailing how they will spend the funds.
Applications for these grants close at 5.00 pm on Friday 28 April 2023, and successful applicants will be notified of the result in July 2023.
