By Tyler Wright
Community groups and organisations throughout the Hills are invited to apply for funding through a new round of community grants opening on Monday 1 August.
The Hills Recovery Committee from Yarra Ranges Council will seek applications from groups who are operating in at least one the Hills townships and have ready-to-go projects which meet an urgent need.
Hills Recovery Committee Chair Gareth Hart said the grant program is funded by the Bendigo Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation and is a response to the community’s desire for social connection after Covid-19 lockdowns and the June 2021 storm event.
“The grants are focused on the idea of recovery, and they’re asking for community to put forward an idea for a project that is shovel-ready. So ideas, projects that are ready to go now, that might bring the community together [and] might invest in our sense of connection,” Gareth said.
“The great thing about the CRC funding program is that it’s very broad. So really, it’s about the impact of what those grants will do and how the community come together through those grants.”
Gareth said they imagine some applications will focus on festivals, food, the arts and mental health support.
“That’s one of the I think one of the best things about the program is that we’re not defining what the project should be; we’re just defining in a way what they should do, which is bring people together,” they said.
The Kalorama Collective, which was formed after the June 2021 storm event to provide meals, showers and supplies to those in need, will be applying for funding through this Hills Community Recovery Committee Grant Round to support their monthly dinners.
The dinners bring Dandenong Ranges residents together at Olinda Community House to gather and support each other in recovery.
Funds will help The Soup Angels purchase supplies for meals, entertainment and ongoing running costs.
“We’ve been relying on locals individually donating, so any funding would be appreciated,” chairperson of The Kalorama Collective Nia Beardsley said.
To apply in this round of grants, each community group or organisation must be servicing the areas of Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South, parts of Emerald, Ferny Creek, Kallista, Kalorama, part of Lysterfield, Macclesfield, Menzies Creek, Monbulk, Mt Dandenong, Narre Warren East, Olinda, Sassafras and Selby, Sherbrook, Silvan, Tecoma, The Patch, Tremont, parts of Upper Ferntree Gully and Upwey.
To learn more and apply in this grant round, visit https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/recovery/Community-and-wellbeing/Regional-Community-Recovery-Committees
Applications close on Monday 29 August.
