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The Regional Board of UnitingCare Ageing Hunter, Central Coast and New England calls for applications from congregations or community groups for grants from its Innovative Community Grants Fund on a yearly basis.

This year applications close on May 16, 2011 for projects which will commence from July 2011.
The next application round will begin in early 2012. Keep visiting this page for updates.

 Click here to download the 2011 Innovative Community Grants Fund Application Pack

 

Successful Innovative Community Grants Applications

2011 is the fifth year of our experience with the fund and so far $500,000 has been provided in 33 community projects which are either in progress now or have been completed. They range from research projects, to Men’s Sheds to the encouragement of permaculture for inner urban dwellers, special equipment for care of children and the aged with disabilities, an oral history project and computer literacy, to programs for people with mental disabilities and home work programs for children who are refugees. Each activity has been conceived and is operated by a local church or community group and we are very happy to have been able to respond to their creative initiative with a small grant at the right time.

2010 Successful Grants:

Warnervale Regional UCA: Radio Hearing Loop
Toukley UCA: Upgrade of technical needs
St Marks UCA Mannering Park: Facilities & services Upgrade
Hunter Friends of L'Arche: Office establishment
Uniting Care Singleton Disability Respite: Toy shelf/sterilising equipment
St Lukes UCA Belmont: Community Garden
St Lukes UCA Belmont: Creative writing & games
Hamilton/Broadmeadow Parish: Shop Front Ministry
Toronto UCA: Research & feasibility
Wangi Men's Shed: Equipment
Merewether UCA: Community Kitchen Garden
North Lake Macquarie UCA: Homework Support
Jesmond Park UCA: Sudanese Support Service 
Broken Bay UCA: Community Playgroup
Inverell Men's Shed Incorporated: Construction of new shed
Inverell Men's Shed Incorporated: Physical & Mental Health
Gosford UCA: Uniting Drama Group
Hunter Presbytery; Marquee for Presbytery gatherings

 

 

2009 Successful Grants

1: Belmont High School
This grant enabled a series of in-school sessions which help young people develop strategies to cope with challenges associated with adolescence, to develop understandings of the personal, legal and moral implications of behaviours such as bullying and harassment, substance abuse, grief, etc. The program is envisaged to continue to off-site activities such as visits to correctional facilities and enable people to reflect on various issues.  

2: Caves Beach Uniting Church
This grant enabled the church to purchase a 14 Seater bus. The bus will be used to transport aged and disabled people to a variety of activities such as cafes, sing-a-longs, dinners and outings which fall within the church's emphasis on hospitality programs.  

3: Cornerstone Church Tamworth Soup Kitchen
This grant enabled the church to provide kitchen equipment in order to serve the needs of the soup kitchen which provides a weekly meal and opportunity to socialise for the local community, many of whom are indigenous people including a high proportion of children. (80 – 120 people weekly). The meal is provided at no cost to the clients. The soup kitchen has the support of the South Tamworth Uniting Church and is well known and respected in the local community. It has been noted with enthusiasm in the state parliament as a community initiative.  

4: Toronto Uniting Church Computer Centre
This grant enabled the establishment of a dedicated computer centre within the Toronto church  building. It will open six days per week for the continued training in the operating of computers for word processing, internet, photography for the wide spectrum of subjects; ranging from the personal self-education and research by seniors as part of the “Wellness Program” which began mid 2009 to High School students for research and homework.  

5: Tamworth Men’s Shed
This grant enabled the process of developing a Men's Shed in Tamworth to commence. The initiative of the project came from a group of retired farmers in association with Lifeline, which endorses the project. A number of other community groups have been consulted. The steering committee is networking with other men's sheds. The Tamworth campus of TAFE offered premises for the shed in a workshop owned by TAFE at no cost except for security. The premises will be available only one day per week initially but the committee believes that this is a good start.  

6: Inverell Uniting Church Community Kitchen
This grant enabled the upgrading of facilities in the Uniting Church in order to serve the needs of the community kitchen which provides a weekly meal at no cost as well as the opportunity for disabled and homeless people to socialise. The number of people served is normally 50 per week and increases to 80 during school holidays. The upgrade will allow the group to cater for more people. The Inverell group has been successful in involving the target group in taking responsibility and has greatly enhanced people's social skills.  

7: Morpeth Uniting Church Men’s Shed Group
A grant was given for commencement costs for a men's shed which will be located at the church and auspiced by the church.  

8: North Lake Macquarie Uniting Church Men’s Shed
The grant was given as part of the church's contribution towards a community men's shed located at Hawkins Village`- a Masonic retirement complex. The church's contribution will provide funds for storage, tools, equipment and on-going consumables.  

9: Uniting Church Synod of NSW and the ACT Fellowships Committee
This grant enabled this state body to publish a booklet for distribution in its networks (which include UnitingCare Ageing networks) and contains positive people stories.  

10: Jesmond Park HELP
This grant is an extension of the Homework and English Literacy Program (HELP) and enables some support for a part time tutor for a period of 6 months who will set up programs so that volunteers can be provided with the skills to maintain the program.  

11: Adamstown Uniting Church Permaculture Project - SOS Saving our Suburbs
An initial grant enabled the church to hold a series of workshops to assist people (especially but not solely apartment dwellers) to devise sustainable Permaculture gardens. The project has attracted attention from the Newcastle City Council (which seeks its assistance in building a community garden and a workshop) and other groups such as Adamstown Public School (community garden). The group together with Transition Towns Newcastle (aimed at Permaculture based transition to sustainable society and ecology) received further funding to develop the project (under the name SOS – Sustaining Our Suburbs).  

12: Kincumber Men’s Shed
An initial grant enabled the installation of a water tank, the establishment of a community garden and the replacement of equipment which was loaned to it. Kincumber Men’s Shed is situated in the grounds of the Uniting Church and is auspiced by and supported by the church.  

13: Singleton UnitingCare Disability Services Sleep-Over Project
 An initial grant enabled the purchase of computer equipment to allow a community fundraising project to commence. The project is working towards the establishment of a house suitable to use as “sleep over accommodation” of children with disabilities. A further grant has enabled the establishment of an administrative system, publicity and fundraising for the project to further develop.  

14: Region Initiated Project Men’s Shed Networking/Mentoring/Research
In 3 years of operation our region's Innovative Community Grants Fund has supported 5 Men’s sheds in various stages of development. There are several other men's shed in the region and there is potential for others. Concern had been expressed that projects depend strongly on the initiatives and management skills of one person and their sustainability and viability is called into question. Funding was set aside to resource a project to be set up by the Regional Office of UnitingCare Ageing in order to explore possibilities for its or other parties' role in networking and mentoring men's sheds in the region.