Community Grants Program Has Funding Increased
The Hills Shire Council has increased the funding available to community groups, charities, and non-profit organizations through its Community Grants Program.
The program aims to support community services across four main priority areas, including the arts, domestic violence prevention and recovery, mental health and suicide prevention, and disability, youth, seniors, and cultural projects.
The Minor Community Grant has been increased from $1000 to $2500, while the Annual Community Grant has risen from a maximum limit of $15,000 to $25,000 for larger projects.
The streamlined Grants application process reduces paperwork and allows volunteers to focus on their programs and services.
The Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Peter Gangemi, said the monetary increase supports community-led programs that align with Council’s vision for building a vibrant and inclusive community: “It also allows our community groups, charities and not-for-profits – who are mainly run by volunteers – to spend less time applying and doing more of what they do best.”
Nicole King of the RDA (NSW) Tall Timbers Centre said that the Council’s Community Grants Program has been greatly beneficial to their organization, allowing them to upgrade their garden and build a fence: “This has given us the opportunity to bring the garden to life again for our participants and enable more access to visit it and enjoy the space by the wider community,” she said.
The Council’s Annual Community Grants Program will open in September for applications, while the Minor Community Grant and Other Financial Assistance programs are open for applications all year round. For more information, residents and local organizations can visit the ‘Apply For A Grant’ page on the Hills Shire Council website .
