There's still time to apply for a Community Resilience Grant

Published on 20 January 2021

Gannawarra Shire Council-based community groups and organisations have until Tuesday, 16 February to apply for funding to help support community resilience projects.

Applications for the popular Gannawarra Community Resilience Grants Program opened in late December 2020, with the program enabling local community groups and organisations to apply for up to $3,000 for projects and initiatives.

“Now is the time for community groups and organisations to consider applying for funding from this program, which supports initiatives and events that bring residents together,” Mayor Charlie Gillingham said.

“As we begin our community recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to unite and support each other will be pivotal, with projects supported by the Gannawarra Community Resilience Grants Program to support this.”

The grants program will support community-led activities that align with the following priorities from the Gannawarra COVID-19 Community Relief and Recovery Plan:

• Projects that maintain and build on social links within communities and promote social inclusion and equity;
• Projects that promote healthy communities and improved mental health and wellbeing;
• Community gardens and other projects that improve food security;
• Projects that support children, young people and their families;
• Creative arts projects, particularly those that build new skills across the community;
• Projects that support safer communities, including responding to future emergency situations and prevention of family violence;
• Projects that restore and build local economies;
• Workshops and training that build the capacity of community to develop localised solutions to climate change;
• Small landscaping projects that improve the local environment;
• Projects that promote the Five Ways to Wellbeing – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give; and
• Other projects that create sustainable long-term outcomes to build resilience of the Gannawarra community to withstand future change.

“Regardless of how small projects are, community groups and organisations are encouraged to look at the program guidelines, which are available at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/grants and determine whether projects or activities planned would benefit from this funding,” Mayor Gillingham said.

Applications can be submitted online at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/grants

For more details, please visit www.gsc.vic.gov.au/grants, phone (03) 5450 9333 or email grants@gannawarra.vic.gov.au

ABOVE: The recent installation of digital signage at the Koondrook Fire Brigade occurred thanks to funding from a previous round of the Gannawarra Community Resilience Grants Program.