Grants to support community projects

ENERGY retailer EnergyAustralia has launched a $10,000 program to support community projects and initiatives in the Geelong region and western district.

EnergyAustralia’s leader of customer care in Geelong Casey Kaminskyj said the Geelong Community Grants program was a chance to get projects and ideas off the ground that helped build an even stronger community.

“We’re in our third year of the EnergyAustralia Geelong Community Grants program and we’re into the best part: seeing firsthand these projects come to life and our neighbours reaping the benefits.”

Last year the entire grant amount went to Wombat’s Wish, a non-profit group provides high quality services for bereaved children, young people and their families.

Wombat’s Wish director David Trott said the children sometimes came from difficult circumstances and often had very complex needs.

During the past 12 years, Wombat’s Wish has supported more than 220 children on their bereavement journey through weekend camps.

“This $10,000 will directly support five families and their children to attend a Wombat’s Wish camp in 2018 – a wonderful outcome,” Mr Trott said.

Each year grants are awarded based on a project’s potential to benefit the Geelong region in two key areas: education and social inclusion.

Education funding is aimed at promoting education and knowledge acquisition, including programs with a social or environmental focus and organisations which support career or skill development.

Social inclusion funding is aimed at facilitating social inclusion and community cohesion, through such things as men’s sheds, upgrading communal facilities, improving local amenities and supporting vulnerable community members.

Applications for the EnergyAustralia Geelong Community Grants will close at 5pm on May 14.

EnergyAustralia welcomes applications from the City of Greater Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast Shire and west to Colac and Warrnambool.

For more information or to download an application form, head to energyaustralia.com.au/Geelong.