Foundation backs community groups

OVER seventy-four thousand dollars’ worth of grants were distributed to community organisations by the Ballarat Foundation last week.

Twelve groups received support for the delivery of their grassroots initiatives across Ballarat.

The Salvos’ Redan-based Life Skills, Activities, Relationships and Fun program was awarded a $7500 Community Impact Grant.

“The LARF program has been funded by the Foundation for 20 years this year, and the money we get from this grant directly feeds into our fortnightly program costs,” LARF’s Jasmine Darge said.

“It helps us get food and activity supplies every week to run sessions, to bring socially isolated 13 to 16 year olds together, engage them in activities and give them experiences in the community.

“We transport them to sessions, they take part in a planned activity covering one of the four LARF themes, sit down and have a home-cooked meal together, and it’s a real family environment.”

Other Community Impact Grant beneficiaries included Ballarat Community Health’s Go 4 Green 2.0 project, Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative’s Indigenous Youth Leaders Connecting to Culture Camp, and Back to School programs, and the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre for Our Garden-Our Kitchen Social Enterprise.

The Aboriginal Literacy Foundation’s post-COVID youth literacy catch-ups, Uniting Meals for Change, the Hilltop Church Breakfast Club, and Art of the Minds’ Living with Purpose wellbeing and personal development program also benefited.

The Wendouree-Delacombe Sub-Fund boosted the Wendouree West Exodus Community Family Camp, and Ballarat Basketball’s Phoenix College sport employment training, while Uniting’s Breezeway meals program received backing from The Courier Charity Fund.