The successful recipients of the 2025/26 Financial Support category within the City of Playford's Community Support and Grant Program have been announced, providing funding to two local organisations making a lasting difference in our community.
The Financial Support category provides vital assistance to eligible community organisations delivering projects which promote social inclusion, participation and improved wellbeing outcomes for Playford residents.
Funding can support a range of initiatives, including start-up assistance, operational support for existing services or the launch of new community programs.
The 2025/26 round opened from 30 June to 18 August 2025, with 22 applications received. Following this process, Safe Pets Safe Families, SJP Wellbeing, and the Northern Communities of Hope were selected as successful recipients and awarded financial support.
Each will receive $50,000 for three years to support their life-changing initiatives - Playford Human-Animal Hub and S.A.F.E Space by Northern Communities of Hope.
Mayor Glenn Docherty is proud to announce this year's financial support recipients and believes investment into local organisations can help build a community which values supporting one another when life can become challenging.
"These initiatives reflect the heart of what makes Playford special - ensuring that everyone, including our pets, has access to care, safety and connection," Mayor Docherty said.
"By investing in programs that empower families, support trauma recovery and strengthen social connections, we're creating a community where everyone can thrive. That also means supporting spaces that promote positive mental health and wellbeing."
A partnership between Safe Pets Safe Families and SJP Wellbeing will deliver the Playford Human-Animal Hub - an initiative supporting vulnerable residents.
Together, they will provide accessible, free and low-cost programs from the existing premises at Smithfield.
The Human-Animal Hub will offer a range of services including Paws and Pals (a pet and homelessness support program), pet food bank, pop-up vet clinics, no-interest loan schemes, low-cost counselling, trauma-informed yoga and ADHD support groups - creating a safe and supportive environment where people and their pets can heal and thrive together.
Safe Pets Safe Families Founder and chief executive officer Jennifer Howard said the support will help expand the One Welfare model in Playford.
"Council's support means we can continue pioneering One Welfare services that care for people and their pets in times of crisis," Ms Howard said.
"We're incredibly grateful and beyond excited to be creating a more compassionate, connected community where no one is left behind - not even our pets."
SJP Wellbeing Director Shani Prideaux said the funding will bring a unique community concept to life.
"This funding allows us to bring a truly innovative community concept to life - a safe, inclusive hub that supports mental health, connection and crisis recovery," Ms Prideaux said.
"We're proud to be part of a model that recognises the healing power of human-animal relationships and grateful to Council for backing a project that puts people and their pets at the heart of wellbeing.
"The programs we'll now be able to run will bring SPSF into the north, so we can join forces to support more people, families and their pets - that's really exciting."
The Northern Communities of Hope will utilise its funding to create the S.A.F.E - Supportive, Accessible, Family Empowerment Space to provide a drop-in area, counselling, recovery programs and youth activities from a local centre in Elizabeth North or Davoren Park.
Through the establishment of S.A.F.E, Playford's first trauma-informed community hub will be established for families and survivors of family and domestic violence.
The space will deliver holistic, wraparound support that strengthens community connections, improves mental health and empowers people to rebuild their lives.
