A total of $44,200 in funding has been awarded to eleven community projects as part of Byron Shire Council's annual Community Initiatives Program.
"It is always a great honour to announce the recipients of this funding program because it's a chance to acknowledge the breadth of amazingly creative and inspiring work going in the Byron Shire," Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, said.
"This year we had applications from new groups like Who Gives a Cluck Inc who provide 'chook therapy' via rescued hens for special needs groups in the Byron Shire, which is something different!"
"Many of our grants went to projects that are supporting flood affected people and offering wellbeing opportunities to the whole community," the Mayor said.
"It's great to see so many community groups doing fantastic grass-roots work to look after our precious environment, reduce waste and tackle climate change. This is something I'd like to see grow through community initiatives in the future," the he said.
Congratulations to this year's Community Initiatives Program grant recipients:
- Spaghetti Circus
Scholarship program: Scholarship program for families who were impacted by the flood, Indigenous families and families experiencing disadvantage ($ 4,190).
- Coorabell Hall
Purchase projector, retractable screen and lighting: to screen films for the community on planned monthly "Friendly Friday" events or similar. Will be used to facilitate bands, weddings and performances ($ 5,000).
- Who Gives a Cluck Inc. Chook Therapy
Provide hens (rescued), coops, fencing, advice & support to specific needs groups in the Byron Shire like aged-care facilities, schools (instead of hatching projects), and shelter communities including women's shelters ($5,000).
- Zero Emissions Byron
2022 BYD Byron Electric Vehicle Expo: held on 11 September, this expo focused on electric vehicles and how they can contribute to emissions reduction ($5,000).
- Green and Clean Awareness Team
Planting Clarkes Beach to Main Beach: work on establishing dune grasses on the foredune and plant out areas from Clarkes to Main Beach to re-establish a buffer area ($800).
- Eureka Hall
First Aid Training and defibrillator: to establish a Community Resilience Team (CRT) for Eureka under the guidance of Red Cross Australia. Funding will be used to purchase necessary equipment and organise First Aid Training ($5,000).
- Brunswick Valley Landcare
Replace items lost in flood: to replace items lost in the flood to provide continued engagement and information about natural resource management and regenerative agriculture to our community ($4,804).
- Empowered Today
Empowered Today Training: provide a 5-day comprehensive 'Empowered Today' instructor training teaching Empowerment and Self Defence (ESD), mindfulness and healthy relationships ($5,000).
- Federal Community Centre
Annual Federal Park Party 2022 - 20th Year Celebrations: performances are staged by local community groups and schools. The event includes market stalls, artisan stalls, food trucks and musicians ($3,000).
- Suffolk Park Community Garden Inc.
Creation of a food fence/forest: In consultation with Council, create a 'live' fence/forest using bollards, fruit trees, shrubs, and edible hedges. Two thirds of the fence (64 metres) will follow a public pathway, providing community access to fruit. ($1,406).
- Byron Bay High School P&C Association
Recycling and Reusing Waste Program: Educate students and staff about the possibilities of recycling and reusing their waste at Byron Bay High School by improving the segregation of waste streams ($5,000).
