Have Your Say on Council’s Community Development Program
Published on 21 September 2020
Image: A community garden is just one initiative that has received a grant through Shoalhaven City Council's Community Development Program.
Shoalhaven City Council is inviting residents to have their say on proposed changes to Council’s Community Development Grant Program.
The purpose of the grants program is to support community organisations to offer alternative approaches to meeting community needs, and to develop programs and activities that encourage community participation and inclusion.
Shoalhaven City Council’s Mayor Amanda Findley said, “We hope the suggested amendments will make Council’s Community Development Grant application process simpler and more transparent.
“The program seeks to empower individuals and groups by providing them with the skills and support they need to effect and drive change in their own communities.
“Council has been providing small Community Development Grants to enhance the lives of people in the Shoalhaven since 2017,” said Clr Findley.
“The program has proven to be effective, with funded projects exposing children to live music performance in order to introduce them to the sounds and shapes of music, to the basics of musical instruments and how music is played, and the enjoyment that playing and listening to music can bring to individuals and to gatherings of young and old.
“Another successful funded project has connected isolated seniors with social visits by trained volunteers to improve health and wellbeing. And yet another project has supported groups to help locals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to gain housing and employment by assisting with hairdressing and clothing,” said Clr Findley.
“The proposed changes to the Community Development Program aim to encourage more local recipients to develop and deliver local community development events and projects that align with the key themes and priorities identified by the community in Council’s Community Strategic Plan,” she said.
Sign up to Council’s Get Involved Page to ‘Stay Informed’ of when the next round of Community Development Grants will be launched. The next round of the Community Development Grants will also be advertised on Council’s Grants & Funding page.
Interested residents can have their say on the revised program on Council’s Get Involved page until 12 October.