Deadline: 13-Jan-23
The Wingecarribee Shire Council is inviting applications for the Community Assistance Scheme to build capacity, encourage participation and support initiatives that promote partnerships and working together to maintain the community and its assets.
The Community Assistance Scheme encourages the development of community initiatives in line with Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Community Strategic Plan – Wingecarribee 2031.
Objectives
- The Community Strategic Plan for Wingecarribee Shire, “Wingecarribee 2031” outlines five themes. These include a commitment to leadership, their people, their places, their environment and their economy. These were developed in consultation with the community and underpin the work of Council.
- The objective of the Wingecarribee Community Assistance Scheme is to further this commitment to the Community Strategic Plan – Wingecarribee 2031 through the distribution of funds to local non-profit community (incorporated) organisations to assist in the development and provision of cultural, sporting, welfare, health promotion, leisure, environmental and community development programs, activities and events.
- These funds help to establish, improve, or enhance resources, services and facilities and access for all residents of the Wingecarribee Shire, by providing grants for capital works, equipment, programs, activities and events or facilities.
- A grant pool has been provided by the Environment Levy to support potential projects with the principle purpose to achieve environment or sustainability outcomes, especially those that increase sustainability and community capacity
Funding Information
- There are two types of funding available under the Community Assistance Scheme. These are: Donations of $600 – Donations are not subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST). When donations have been spent, organisations are requested to provide documentation to Council on the use of the donation using the online forms provided on Smartygrants.
- Grants up to $7,000 – Grants are subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST) for gst registered organisations.
Funding Principles
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So that funding is allocated equitably and effectively successful applications must meet the following criteria:
- The applicant Organisations must demonstrate their commitment to the principles of social justice and how they work towards the promotion of equity, access and participation and the rights of all Wingecarribee residents who access their services, projects, activities and events.
- Applicants must address how their application fits into one of the five themes outlined in the Community Strategic Plan – Wingecarribee 2031.
- Applicants must identify the type of funding being applied for and must comply with all the scheme guidelines.
- Council will only accept one application from organisations.
Priorities
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Priority will be given to:
- Areas where the need is considered greatest and where there is an obvious and documented community/local need.
- Organisations which have not previously received funding from Council. Projects which support the goals and strategies of the Community Strategic Plan – Wingecarribee 2031.
- Projects that demonstrate clear value for money.
- Projects where the applicant contributes financially towards the project.
- Grant applications must benefit and/or support local cultural, sporting, welfare, health promotion, community development and leisure facilities, services and activities.
- Projects that principally have objectives of community development, cultural and welfare, but which may have an incidental environmental/sustainability component will be considered through the general Community Assistance Scheme process. Generally, a low priority will be given to projects requiring recurrent funding. For long term projects Council may consider funding components of the project that can be completed within twelve (12) months.
- Funds must be expended within the period from mid-February to 30 June 2023 unless otherwise approved by Council.
- Where funding has been granted under this scheme in previous years, the applicant must have fully satisfied the conditions of previous Wingecarribee Community Assistance funding agreements to be considered for this round.
- Contributions from the applicant to the project in cash and/or in-kind (voluntary labour and/or materials, etc) will strengthen the application, as will evidence of efforts to seek funding from other sources.
- Council’s Advisory Committees and Panels are not eligible to apply for funding.
- Any asset, non-permanent fixture or fitting acquired through the Community Assistance scheme and located on Council property, will remain in Council ownership. Ownership of any other assets acquired with these funds is to be determined by Council as a condition of each project funded. Should the organisation cease to operate or vary the objectives/rules under which it operates, assets and resources acquired with Council grant funds must be returned to Wingecarribee Shire Council. If not voluntarily returned, Wingecarribee Shire Council reserves the right to take possession of these assets and resources and redistribute to a like-minded organisation within Wingecarribee Shire.
- All funding awarded by Council is made on the assumption of honest and full disclosure of information. Evidence of any breach of this trust will make the grant or donation null and void in which case, any funds paid under the subject scheme must be returned to Council.
- No funds will be granted or donated for goods, services or works carried out or purchased in the previous financial year. Organisations need to plan in advance and consider the timing of their projects or purchases that they are completing an application for.
- Council funding is made directly to the Community Organisation therefore Council cannot pay the supplier directly for goods or services purchased with Council funds. To ensure accountability, all Council funds must go through the organisation’s bank account. Receipts or accounts from suppliers must be presented for payments to be made.
- Generally funding requests for the purchase of electronic office and communication equipment (such as computers, data projectors, printers, photocopiers and mobile phones) or the development and maintenance of web-sites are not favourably considered.
- Applicants should note that the information and documents requested in the application form will be used to assess that the organisation is currently functioning and sustainable.
Eligibility Criteria
- Projects which meet the objectives of the scheme and organisations that comply with the guidelines
- Projects that demonstrate a link to the themes, goals and strategies of the Community Strategic Plan -Wingecarribee 2031
- Any community project where there is a demonstrated need
- “Seeding” Donations or Grants to enable incorporation
- Projects based in the Wingecarribee local Government area
- Projects that maximise access for participation across the general community and those that provide access to people with mobility restriction/s
- Projects on public/community/Council owned property
- Projects on Council property relating to events, activities, resources, training, coaching and similar activities (not maintenance, upgrades, permanent fixtures or as determined by Council)
- Projects that benefit and/or support local cultural, sporting, welfare, health promotion, community development and leisure facilities, services and activities
- Projects/programs run by religious organisations that can demonstrate broad community benefit (not capital works on places of worship)Projects which meet the objectives of the scheme and organisations that comply with the guidelines
- Projects that demonstrate a link to the themes, goals and strategies of the Community Strategic Plan -Wingecarribee 2031
- Any community project where there is a demonstrated need
- “Seeding” Donations or Grants to enable incorporation
- Projects based in the Wingecarribee local Government area
- Projects that maximise access for participation across the general community and those that provide access to people with mobility restriction/s
- Projects on public/community/Council owned property
- Projects on Council property relating to events, activities, resources, training, coaching and similar activities (not maintenance, upgrades, permanent fixtures or as determined by Council)
- Projects that benefit and/or support local cultural, sporting, welfare, health promotion, community development and leisure facilities, services and activities
- Projects/programs run by religious organisations that can demonstrate broad community benefit (not capital works on places of worship)
Ineligible
- Private organisations and/or individuals or projects that provide a commercial financial benefit to the applicant.
- Projects that cannot demonstrate a need or will not ensure access for all residents of the Shire
- Projects that pose a risk to the environment or work, health and safety
- State and Federal government departments
- Schools and organisations primarily associated with a school
- Permanent works of a capital nature executed on and/or pertaining to private property
- Recurrent services or ongoing components of a project
- Funding requests for works, projects and events that have already been completed
- Projects mainly benefiting community groups/organisations or residents outside the Wingecarribee Shire
- Funding for vehicle purchases and maintenance
- Funding to cover a shortfall in the applicant organisation’s operational budget Capital works or facility upgrades on places of worship
For more information, visit Wingecarribee Shire Council.
