Hills Shire Council: Annual Community Grants Program 2023/24 is now open

The Hills Shire Council announced that the Annual Community Grants Program for 2023 to 2024 is now open to not-for-profit groups and organisations needing funding.

Potential community projects, events, and programs can be given a grant ranging from $2501 to $25,000. Earlier this year, the Council increased the program’s funding of the Minor Community Grant from $1000 to $2500 and the Annual Community Grant to its $15,000 to $25,000 maximum limit for more significant projects.

Interested applicants may submit a Grant application via this webpage: Apply for a Grant.

The Hills Shire Council is actively looking at potential programs and events with these qualities:

• Events, concerts, theatre, and arts programs designed to engage key community members that entertain the broader community;
• Domestic violence prevention and recovery;
• Mental health and suicide prevention; and
• Disability, youth, seniors, and cultural projects that support community participation opportunities.

These community activities should be able to accomplish these goals:

• Encourage community groups to develop projects, events or activities that encourage community participation, social inclusion, and community engagement.
• Enable delivery of creative, artistic, and cultural projects that enrich the community.
• Encourage community groups to develop and implement activities and projects that occur in the Hills LGA that address social needs.
• Build community partnerships to improve access to community services or skills for residents of the Hills Shire.
• Provide operational and/or equipment for local organisations and sporting groups to increase their community services beyond their current capability. 

“It is a competitive process and information sessions to assist applicants are held prior to the closing date,” as per the Council. The time window for the application is until 4:00 PM, 7 August 2023, only.

Dr Peter Gangemi, Mayor of the Hills Shire, mentioned that the Grants Program is an avenue that can make a collective impact on the Hills community and encourages organisations and groups to apply.

“Council seeks to support our community as much as possible, and the Annual Community Grants Program is a key part of that goal,” Mayor Gangemi said.

“Community groups are the backbone of the Hills Shire, and they have an incredible ability to deliver community services to our residents.

“The Annual Community Grants Program allows these groups to carry out initiatives for the wider community that they connect with.

“I strongly encourage any not-for-profit community group to apply for an Annual Community Grant.”

The Hills Shire Council granted a total of $38,600 worth of community grants to five organisations last year: $15,000 for the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra, $10,000 to the Community Migrant Resource Centre, $10,000 for the Fit Kidz Foundation, $2,500 to the Baulkham Hills Shire Netball Association, and $1,100 to the Box Hill Nelson Progress Association.

The Hills Shire Council Mayor Gangemi at the 2022 Stronger Together Conference by the Fit Kidz Foundation. 

There will be an upcoming Annual Community Grants & Information & Application Training Sessions on 12 July 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. It introduces interested applicants to the Council’s Community Grants Program, criteria, and requirements. Registration for the session can be reserved via Eventbrite here: Community Grants Program 2023/24 – Application Training Session. 

The sessions will be held at the Hills Shire Council, located at 3 Columbia Court Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153 Australia.

Image credit to Hills Shire Council.