Are you ready to make a difference in your local community? At the City of Casey, we believe that supporting local groups and organisations is key to building a thriving community. 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, we had the pleasure of funding many deserving groups who are busy making a real difference in our community. Here are just a few examples of the inspiring groups that we had the privilege of supporting:
- The Water Well Project, who provide 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. We were delighted to support their efforts to create a healthier, more informed community.
- The Berwick Toy Library, a community-run service that provides local children with access to high-quality toys. We were thrilled to support their purchase of new toys and the establishment of a new 'stay and play' room, which will provide even more opportunities for children to learn and grow through play.
- The Casey Rainbow Community, which supports our LGBTIAQ+ community through events, education, and advocacy. We were honoured to support their events series, which creates safe, inclusive spaces for members of the LGBTIAQ+ community to connect and celebrate.
- Al-Emaan Women Organisation, an inspiring group who run a CALD women's sewing group, providing women with a welcoming and supportive space to learn new skills and connect with others. We were delighted to support their efforts to empower women and foster community connections.
- The Endeavour Hills Mens Shed, a fantastic initiative that provides men with a supportive space to come together, socialize, and work on projects. We were thrilled to support their men's wellbeing program, which helps to address the mental health challenges that many men face.
- St John Ambulance, an essential organisation that provides vital emergency medical services to our community. We supported their volunteer recruitment and training efforts, which will help ensure that they can continue to provide critical care when it's needed most.
What can we help your community organisation achieve? To apply, your group must be able to demonstrate significant community support and develop a project plan highlighting the benefits of what you are proposing and create an itemised budget detailing how you 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.
For detailed information on the grants, including how to apply, please visit our Community Grants page.
