Submissions open for Community Minor Grants Program 2024

Deadline: 28-Oct-2024

The Sunshine Coast Council is accepting submissions for the Community Minor Grants Program to acknowledge and strengthen the valuable contribution that community groups and their volunteers make towards achieving our shared vision of being Australia’s most sustainable region: healthy, smart, creative and fostering a strong community within the Sunshine Coast Biosphere.

Minor Grants support community organisations to deliver one-off projects, events and activities that align with council’s strategic priorities and demonstrate a community purpose.

Categories

Community Development Category
- Outcomes: Inclusive Communities; Connected, Resilient Communities; Healthy, Active Communities.
- This category supports community-led projects, activities and events which contribute to enhancing community wellbeing and/or strengthen the ability of community organisations to respond to community needs.
- Category priorities
  - Projects/activities/events funded under this category will address one or more of the following:
    - foster social inclusion, enhance cultural awareness and embrace diversity
    - support and promote community health and wellbeing
    - foster partnerships and collaboration and sharing of resources between community groups and other organisations
    - enhance community safety
    - support, recognise and encourage community volunteering
  - support community-led initiatives and solutions that respond to current and emerging local needs and/or address complex community issues
  - build the skills, knowledge, capability and sustainability of local community organisations to identify and deliver initiatives which respond to community needs
  - increase community participation, connections and sense of belonging within local communities through free or low-cost initiatives
  - enhance community resilience and recovery through disaster prevention, preparedness, or recovery activities
  - engage with the community to encourage an environmentally sustainable Sunshine Coast.
Community Facilities Category
- Outcome: Vibrant Communities
- This category supports infrastructure projects that involve the development, maintenance or improvement of buildings or land that contribute to providing a safe, accessible and inclusive community facility.
- Choose this category if your project involves planning or undertaking work on buildings or land. Examples include but are not limited to:
  - facility improvements (such as extensions, renovations, accessibility ramps, amenities)
  - facility repairs and maintenance (such as painting, guttering, window replacement)
  - permanent installations (such as solar panels, air conditioning, signage)
  - new infrastructure (such as sheds, shade, fences)
- Category Priorities
  - Projects funded under this category must address all of the following:
    - provide well maintained and accessible community facilities which enable opportunities for social interaction
    - adhere to the principles of access and equity
    - address issues of risk management or compliance with Australian Standards
    - minimise environmental impact – Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and follow the seven principles of sustainable construction: sustainable design, durability, energy efficiency, waste reduction, indoor air quality, water conservation, sustainable building materials
    - have a current maintenance schedule.
Creative Development Category
- Outcomes: Inclusive Communities; Creative, Innovative Communities
- This category supports projects, events and activities that contribute to Council’s Creative Arts Plan vision for the Sunshine Coast to be alive with arts, culture and creativity and align with the values of this plan to be bold, authentic, sustainable, inclusive and connected.
- Category priorities
  - Projects funded under this category will address one or more of the following:
    - empower First Nations artists
    - build the capacity of local artists and creatives and the local arts sector
    - grow arts audiences and local participation in the arts by offering a diverse range of creative experiences
    - boost dynamic places and innovative approaches that enable artists and audiences to connect, create and share
    - build the reputation of the Sunshine Coast as a creative region.
Cultural Heritage Category
- Outcome: Creative, Innovative Communities
- This category supports projects, events and activities that document, conserve, promote and make accessible the region’s heritage and social history
- Category priorities
  - Projects funded under this category will address one or more of the following:
    - protect, preserve and celebrate the culture and heritage of Traditional Custodians (Kabi Kabi peoples and Jinibara peoples), and local First Nations people
    - protect, preserve and celebrate the culture and heritage of Descendants of Australian South Sea Islanders
    - provide opportunities to identify, document and preserve the history of settlement on the Sunshine Coast
    - provide access to, interpret and protect the unique lifestyle, places and landscapes within the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area
    - support contemporary heritage (post-1950s), including coastal heritage
    - tell stories relating to the regional contribution to the war effort, industry and innovation
    - encourage collaboration with other heritage organisations, to raise awareness and knowledge of regional cultural heritage
    - incorporate innovative practices to conserve, educate and promote regional heritage, including conservation of significant objects
Economic Development Category
- Outcomes: Strong economic leadership collaboration and identity; Creative, Innovative Communities
- This category supports projects, events and activities that encourage and support local community organisations to contribute positively to improve the economic performance and prosperity of their local community.
- Category priorities
  - Projects funded under this category will address one or more of the following:
    - build leadership, sustainability and equity across industry
    - stimulate investment and growth across one of the region’s six focus economies: –
      - knowledge economy
      - digital economy
      - production economy
      - green economy
      - visitor economy
      - place based economy
    - retain business and expand their capabilities
    - drive innovation, technological advancement and scaling up
    - encourage talent and skills attraction, retention and development.
Sport and Recreation Category
- Outcome: Healthy, Active Communities
- This category supports projects, events and activities that promote community participation in sport and recreational pursuits across the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area.
- Category priorities
  - Projects funded under this category will address one or more of the following:
    - contribute to building healthy and active communities
    - provide physical activity initiatives or opportunities
    - improve the sustainability of sport and recreation clubs
    - engage a broad spectrum of the community
    - provide access for all abilities
    - provide benefit to multiple user groups.

Funding Information

Project funding for not-for-profit community groups up to $2000.

Eligible Projects

Applications must:
- demonstrate a purpose that is in the public interest, with significant community need and benefit
- demonstrate strong alignment with council’s priorities as described in current council strategies, plans or policy positions
- adhere to the terms and conditions of this funding program.

Who can apply?

Not-for-profit community organisations that meet all of the following:
- are a legal entity with not-for-profit status or are registered with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC)
- operate within the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area or can demonstrate the project or program will benefit residents of the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area
- have appropriate insurance and adhere to sound workplace health and safety practices
- are able to demonstrate viability
- have no debt to council, or have entered into scheduled payment arrangements with council, which are being met
- have met acquittal conditions for previous council grants.
If a community organisation is not a legal entity or registered with the ACNC, the application must be auspiced and administered by such a group.

Who can not apply?

Government agencies or departments of local, state or federal government
educational, religious or medical organisations, where the application is for the organisation’s core business
businesses
individuals

For more information, visit Sunshine Coast Council.