THE latest round of grants from local community group Empowering Eaglehawk has opened.<\/p>\n
The group provides up to $5000 and past grants have allowed for upgrades to parks, skateparks, playgrounds, sports facilities in the suburb.<\/p>\n
Mitchell Graham, currently studying to be a primary school teacher, is the president of Empowering Eaglehawk and joined in 2018, when his high school principal recommended him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said yeah righto, it\u2019d be a good opportunity for me to develop my leadership skills. I became a youth representative back in 2020 and got asked this year to be president,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The group helped fund an upgrade to the Eaglehawk play space worth about $40,000 and has delivered over 100 grants to various schools, sporting groups and community projects.<\/p>\n
Grants are funded through referrals to Bendigo Bank or Bendigo Telco, and groups must provide proof of referral to be eligible for funding.<\/p>\n
Mr Graham said this year Empowering Eaglehawk has developed an events committee designed to host more community activities when COVID-19 restrictions ease.<\/p>\n
He said having the grants program is essential to help groups recover from COVID-19.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s taken a hit over the last two years, especially clubs not getting the financial assistance they would like through business partnerships and people coming through the door and playing sport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s vitally important for community groups like us to be able to provide that money and grants to community organisations.\u201d<\/p>\n