Grants to power grassroots projects

ONE hundred thousand dollars was shared amongst local not-for-profit organisations last week as the Ballarat Foundation announced their successful 2023 grants recipients.

Nine groups were awarded Community Impact Grants, including the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council.

BRMC’s youth photographic project, The Little Things, will be shared during the Ballarat International Foto Biennale and was given support worth more than $5600.

Multicultural youth worker, Meg Lee, is helping BRMC develop the program, and said it’s being rolled out at a time when the wellbeing of young people is a big community issue.

“The Little Things project provides a platform for young people from a diversity of backgrounds to share their knowledge and experiences of positive wellbeing with the community,” she said.

“Through an interactive photography exhibition, the project aims to foster community conversations about ‘the little things’ that make a difference to the everyday wellbeing of young people in our intercultural community in Ballarat and the wider region.

“Bringing young people from the Wimmera region together with youth in Ballarat, the program will support youth to connect with peers, local services and supports, which are valuable resources for sustainable wellbeing.”

Ms Lee said the grant will allow BRMC to extend the opportunity to more creative youths in the Wimmera region, who will likely be based in Ballarat in the future.

“Ballarat is an important destination for future training, education, and employment opportunities,” she said.

“Thanks to the grant, we will be able to have a bus coming through Nhill, Horsham, and Stawell to bring young people together in Ballarat for the exhibition launch weekend.

“The group will also be able to experience an overnight stay and campus tour at Federation University, and a TAFE information session.

“This will be an invaluable experience especially for young people who may not have visited a university or TAFE before, and may be the first in their families considering tertiary education in Australia.”

Ballarat Community Garden was also given money, with just less than $5000 going towards works to make garden beds more accessible.

“This is going to create more opportunities for gardeners with disabilities to come into the garden,” said community garden vice-president Cathy McCallum.

“We’re installing garden beds that are specially designed for people with wheelchairs.”

Uniting’s Meals for Change Cafe Meals, Crazy Ideas College’s Social Innovators, BreezeWay Meals, Lucas Community Garden, Sebastopol Men’s Shed’s Get Forked Garden to Kitchen program, Ballarat Community Health’s food garden, and Hilltop Church’s school breakfast clubs were also Community Impact Grant recipients.

The Wendouree-Delacombe Sub Fund is supporting Seventh Day Adventist Church Wendouree’s Soul + Food, Hand in Hand’s Open Parachute program, and Y Ballarat’s Source, Grow, Cook, Work initiative, while Peter Amor Sports Participation Grants went to Club MUD, and Ballarat Gold Swimming Club’s inclusion program.

Ardoch’s grade 5 and 6 Skills and Aspirations program, Uniting’s Reid’s Cooking and Food Security initiative, and Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring program are all beneficiaries of The Courier Charity Fund.

Ballarat Foundation chair Wayne Weaire said many not-for-profits submitted quality grant applications this year.

“We know that community organisations and projects are currently requiring more support than ever as demand for their services continues to grow,” he said.

“The Ballarat Foundation is pleased to be able to provide funding where it is most needed to ensure all members of our community are well supported.

“The foundation could not fund these projects without generous donations from the Ballarat community and we extend our thanks to everyone who has given to allow us to support these great causes.

“Your contributions create real impact.”