Community Strengthening Grant Program in Australia

Deadline: 28-Feb-2025

The Merri-bek City Council is pleased to announce the Community Strengthening Grant Program to support projects that enhance the Merri-bek Community and aim to address areas such as social inclusion and community participation, environmental sustainability, healthy and active living and creating vibrant spaces.

This funding supports one-off community projects that benefit the Merri-bek Community and aim to address areas such as social inclusion and community participation, environmental sustainability, healthy and active living and creating vibrant spaces.

Objectives

• The objectives of this program are aligned with the themes in the Council Plan 2021-2025 that has been shaped by the voice of the community:
  • An environmentally proactive Merri-bek: To strive for maximum protection of people, plants and animals through leading an urgent response to the climate emergency and a regeneration of our natural environment.
  • Moving and living safely in Merri-bek: To contribute to the health, safety, and security of everyone living in our diverse community and to increase safe, accessible, physically active and enjoyable ways to get around Merri-bek, especially via walking, cycling and public transport.
  • A healthy and caring Merri-bek: To support Merri-bek to become a more inclusive, connected, healthy and caring community through providing equitable access to community facilities and services and facilitating local partnerships and programs
  • Vibrant spaces and places in Merri-bek: To create welcoming, unique spaces and places across Merribek that attract and connect everyone, improving access to community facilities and affordable housing and encouraging vibrant artistic, social and economic activity.
  • An empowered and collaborative Merri-bek: To build community trust through encouraging participation, evidence-based decision making, stewardship of resources and being accessible and responsive.

Focus Areas

• This funding supports community projects that benefit and enhance Merri-bek Community and aim to address areas such as:
  • social inclusion and community participation
  • environmental sustainability
  • healthy and active living
  • creating vibrant spaces.

Priorities

• Applications that meet one or more of the Funding Priorities, will score higher in the assessment process:
  • The project/activities support Council’s priority communities including:
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,
    • Migrant and refugee communities,
    • People with disability,
    • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual plus, Transgender and gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual and Aromantic communities (LGBTIQA+),
    • Women,
    • Youth,
    • Seniors,
    • Children.

Program Principles 

• Inclusion: Providing opportunities for individuals and groups to meaningfully take part in community life.
• Equity: Consciously addressing the barriers faced by disadvantaged groups and individuals.
• Impact: Taking a purposeful and strategic approach to funding projects that deliver meaningful social impact.
• Capacity building: Supporting individuals and groups to develop practices, skills and resilience to shape their own futures.
• Collaboration: Encouraging networks and partnerships to deliver exceptional strategic outcomes together.
• Transparency: Delivering a funding program that is transparent and accountable in all processes and decisions

Funding Information

• Amount: Up to $7,000

Duration

• Funded Period: 12 months
• Project to occur: 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Applicants:
  • Organisations, groups and clubs
  • Be a Not-for-Profit community group, organisation or club,
  • Be incorporated or auspiced by another incorporated organisation,
  • Have adequate public liability insurance,
  • Have acquitted previous Council grants and have no outstanding debts to Council,
  • Be able to supply financial statements and requested supporting documentation,
  • Ensure the proposed activity is consistent with Local, State and Federal laws
• Individuals
  • Must be a resident of Merri-bek
  • Show that they have been invited to participate in an activity by an organisation or group,
  • Show that there are financial barriers to participating in the activity,

For more information, visit Merri-bek City Council.