2024 Community Grants Program – Australia

Deadline: 17-Jul-23

The Yarra Ranges Council is offering Community Grants to support local community groups and creatives to implement projects they design and deliver.

The intent of the grants is to foster mental and physical wellbeing, increase social connection, facilitate cultural and heritage development, and celebrate local communities. This funding also enables grassroots communities to access valuable resources to respond to local opportunities and issues.

Outcomes realised are often creative, innovative and build resilience, social engagement, capacity, leadership, and community networks.

Strategic Priorities

• Greater and more meaningful participation from communities.
• Increase the economic size of the creative industries and expand its impact on both the local economy and vibrancy of the communities.
• Develop vibrant and active public places particularly within the townships that express and celebrate the creativity and history.

Funding Streams

The 2024 Grants for Community program has three streams:

• Arts and Heritage
  • Arts and Heritage projects provide an opportunity for community to express themselves in diverse ways, connect with each other and to the place they live. Participation in cultural activity contributes to community sense of creativity, identity, social connection and wellbeing.
  • This funding stream supports groups and individuals to deliver projects that develop and express the Yarra Ranges’ diverse cultural heritage and creative practice. Projects will foster opportunities for the community to experience and participate in arts, culture and heritage.
• Festivals and Events
  • Festivals and events provide an opportunity for community to celebrate their unique identity and contribute to the creativity and cultural diversity of the region. They build social connection through sharing knowledge and experience.
  • The Festival and Events funding stream supports groups and organisations to deliver activities that enhance local culture, celebrate community spirit and contribute to the liveability of Yarra Ranges. All projects funded must ensure delivery of safe, compliant events with minimal environmental impact.

• Community Development
  • Community development describes a way of working that is people focused, taps into the wisdom and experience of communities and builds resilience. It draws on the principles of justice, equity, inclusion and mutual respect.
  • Within any community there is a wealth of knowledge and experience which can empower community led action and be channelled into projects that achieve exciting outcomes and positive change.
  • Priority Groups
    • People with disability, unpaid carers and families
    • People experiencing social disadvantage or isolation
    • Older adults
    • Young people
    • Women and girls
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
    • Culturally and linguistically diverse groups LGBTQIA+
  • Focus Areas
    • Health and Wellbeing
      • This category fosters connected and healthy communities through projects that:
        • Build and enable mental wellbeing by supporting strong and sustainable social connections
        • Promote and support physical health
        • Support disaster preparedness and build resilience
        • Nurture thriving local communities
      • Priority will be given to applications that address one or more of the following strategic goals of Council:
        • Yarra Ranges residents have the capacity to consume healthy food, built on a sustainable food system that provides access to healthy, affordable food for all. e.g. Projects that support people to grow and prepare nutritious food or projects that increase food affordability.
        • Yarra Ranges residents have increased social connection through participation in group activities. e.g. Projects that promote increased social connection and wellbeing particularly for people who may be more vulnerable or isolated.
        • Yarra Ranges residents are physically active and can participate in a range of inclusive, physical activities. e.g. Projects that encourage low cost, inclusive physical activities that also bring people together.
        • Women and children live free from abuse and violence through a culture of gender equity and respect. e.g. Projects that challenge gender stereotypes and build respect and inclusion.
        • Council encourages all applicants to consider how their project supports residents’ sense of belonging, equal participation and more inclusive communities. e.g. Projects that increase participation of people with disability people from diverse cultural backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and LGBTQIA+ community members.
        • Yarra Ranges residents are engaged in community-led social recovery and preparedness for extreme weather events. e.g. Projects that build disaster resilience by: strengthening social connection and networks, and increase knowledge, skills and planning for emergencies.
  • Environment
    • This category is designed to support projects that engage and empower the community in environmental sustainability locally.
    • Priority will be given to applications that address one or more of the following objectives:
      • Encourage those who live and work in the Yarra Ranges region to act as environmental stewards, caring for and protecting natural environments.
      • Involve communities in protecting native plants, animals and their habitats.
      • Improve and protect the region’s iconic natural places.
      • Improve resilience of communities in the face of changing climate and extreme events.
      • Protect and preserve the water resources.
  • Reconciliation
    • Council is committed to Reconciliation. This category seeks to strengthen the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
    • Priority will be given to applications that address one or more of the following objectives:
      • Celebrate and protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage.
      • Break down stereotypes and discrimination.
      • Increase understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.
      • Enhance community driven initiatives that contribute to community wellbeing, economic participation, and cultural strengthening.
  • Young People
    • If you are a young person aged 12 to 25 years, and part of a Not for Profit Community group/organisation, you can apply for a grant.
    • If you are a Not for Profit organisation, you can also apply for a grant to run a program for young people aged 12 to 25.
    • All applicants must show evidence that their project is supported by young people from the Yarra Ranges region, this could be through a co-design process, consultation and/or other supporting documents, such as a letter of support.
    • Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate one or more of the below objectives:
      • Promote opportunities for young people to actively engage in their community, build social connection, and have a voice in decision-making.
      • Your uniqueness is an asset, they welcome applications by, or that support, young people from diverse backgrounds including race, gender, ability, LGBTQIA+ and more
      • Strengthen respectful relationships with a focus on building resilience and promoting gender equality.
      • Increase soft skills and pathways to employment for young people.
    • Programs targeting young people in the diverse locations in Yarra Ranges will be prioritised.
  • Early Years, Middle Years and Families
    • This category encourages innovative projects that enhance the wellbeing and resilience of children and young people 0-14 years, and their families living in the Yarra Ranges.
    • Priority will be given to applications that address one or more of the following objectives:
      • Improved outcomes for children, young people and families experiencing vulnerability.
      • Increased and timely access for children, young people and their families to services and supports that enhance wellbeing and promote resilience
      • Children, young people, and their families have greater access to culturally safe and appropriate activities and opportunities to connect with each other and the broader community.
      • Promote opportunities for children, young people and families to actively engage in their community.

Outcomes

• Arts and Heritage
  • A deeper understanding of local people, history and culture
  • A broad knowledge of Indigenous history, continuity and culture in Yarra Ranges
  • Development of community leaders to help shape the diverse cultures
  • Provision of opportunities for Yarra Ranges artists to develop creative practice
  • Public visibility of contemporary and historical Indigenous culture
  • Visibility of the cultural, historical and artistic diversity of the region within townships
• Festivals and Events
  • Meaningful participation from community in shaping events at all stages of delivery.
  • Creative community events that engage multiple partners and help to develop community leaders.
  • Visibility of the cultural, historical and artistic diversity of the region through the activation of townships.
  • Provision of opportunities for Yarra Ranges artists to present, perform, and engage at local community events.

Eligibility Criteria

• Incorporated not-for-profit community groups with an ABN are eligible to apply. If you are an unincorporated not-for-profit community group (or an individual artist who contributes to our creative communities) you must have your application auspiced by an eligible incorporated not-for-profit organisation
• Organisations, community groups and artists applying for a grant must demonstrate how their project will directly benefit residents of the Yarra Ranges. The project must also have a clear Yarra Ranges focus. Organisations based outside the region can apply if the projects outcomes benefit Yarra Ranges.
• Applicants must commit to obtaining all necessary permits related to the funded activity, particularly for festivals.
• Applicants must have successfully completed all reporting requirements for previous Yarra Ranges Council grants and have no outstanding debts with Council. If unsure, please contact the Grants Team.
• Applicants must provide evidence of adequate public liability insurance.
• Child Safe Standards compliance is required if projects involve direct or incidental contact with children.
• Applicants must consent to providing evidence of how funds were spent and outline project benefits through an acquittal process.
• Purchase of food associated with community relief projects are capped at $500.
• The grant activity must take place during 2024.
• Applicants must submit all supporting material when applying. Given the competitive nature of grants, no late submission of supporting documents can be accepted.
• Applicants must talk through their project ideas with a Council Officer before applying.

Selection Criteria

• Community benefit
• Partnership and collaboration
• Organisational capacity
• Budget
• Inclusion

For more information, visit Yarra Ranges Council.