Do you have a plan to start a community garden; establish an exercise group, or set up a computer club? Maybe you’re part of a bush regeneration club, a quilting group or you want to look at ways to be more energy efficient. If you have a community-based project that’s in need of a financial boost to get it started or take it to the next level, you may be eligible for a community grant being offered by retail, residential and retirement village property developer and manager, Stockland in 2016.
A pool of over $330,000 in funding is available from participating Stockland shopping centres, residential communities and retirement living villages to local community organisations for a wide range of projects and initiatives n 2016.
Grants up to $1,000 each
Individual grants of up to $1,000 can be made to projects that support one or more of Stockland’s key ‘community focus areas’ of: health and wellbeing; education; and community connection.
Projects seeking funding must be located within the same local government area as the Stockland shopping centre, retirement village or residential community to which the application is being made. Projects must also be able to demonstrate a clear program or activity that will be funded and undertaken within six months of the grant being awarded.
This is the third year now for the Stockland Community Grants program, with funding previously granted to 361 community groups involved in local health, sport, leisure and recreation clubs or programs, local employment, education and skills development initiatives, social engagement clubs and programs and environmental programs.
Stockland says that the grants aim to recognise the contribution Australian community groups make to their local community. Stockland’s Chief Operating Officer, Michael Rosmarin, said the company has a long-standing commitment to working with the community and is “proud to be supporting local organisations across the country whose great work, dedication and commitment are an essential part of making any community thrive.”
Happy grant recipients!
Previous grant recipients include the Mid North Coast Maritime Museum (main picture above) in Port Macquarie on NSW’s mid-north coast, which received a $1,000 grant from Lincoln Gardens Retirement Village.
Chairman of the Mid North Coast Maritime Museum, Ted Kasehagen (pictured above, centre; and below, right), said the grant was sought to assist the museum with its marketing and promotion to people in the mid north coast region.
“We are trying to build up awareness of the museum and encourage people to visit so we wanted to purchase a PowerPoint projector so we could take it around to schools and local clubs and groups and do presentations and educate people about our maritime history and what they can see at the museum,” said Mr Kasehagen.
“The grant was so wonderful because we are also trying to fundraise for the museum and we were able to use some of that grant money to purchase a four burner barbeque for events. We had our inaugural market day on the 17th of January this year and we were able to cook and sell food and that was another good source of income.”
Mr Kasehagen admits that they were very careful with the grant money, making it go as far as as possible.
“We also were able to purchase a steam mop to wash the floors. We have two volunteer cleaners who clean the museum and the steam mop makes their life a lot easier,” he said.
Apply for a grant:
If you live near or are visiting Port Macquarie, you can visit the Mid North Coast Maritime Museum at 6 William Street (the ‘top end’). The museum is open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. You can do a virtual tour by visiting the website too: www.maritimemuseumcottages.org.au
