$800,000 On Offer For Local Charities And Not-For-Profit Groups

Hunter not-for-profit and charity organisations seeking funding for local projects have until midnight 22 October 2021 to apply for a grant from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation as part of its latest funding round.

The Charitable Foundation has $800,000 on offer to support community-based organisations across regional NSW that require funding for a new or existing project that aims to address disadvantage or empower new opportunities for marginalised or isolated people.

Charitable Foundation Executive Officer, Graham Batten, said the last year had been especially tough for charities and not-for-profit organisations.

“In the context of continuous restrictions and lockdowns, local charities and not-for-profit organisations have found carrying out their everyday work more challenging and complex, and in some cases impossible. At a time when the growing impact of COVID-19 is being felt across Australia and throughout the world, this support is needed now more than ever.

“While COVID-19 is a global problem, we’re looking local. We believe we can make a real difference by supporting grassroots organisations embedded in their local communities across regional NSW. That’s why we want to hear from charities and not-for-profit groups in the Hunter. Together we can help to rewrite the future, for the better,” said Mr Batten.

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation has a long history of supporting regional communities. Since 2003 its grant program has invested more than $23 million in 512 projects and initiatives to help local communities’ most vulnerable people.

“To date, we have provided close to ten million dollars to a range of programs in the Hunter that address community issues across our key focus areas of health, young people and social disadvantage,” said Mr Batten. In the past, the Charitable Foundation has funded the following programs in the Hunter:

• $78,000 to Centre for Hope to create a COVIDSafe Outreach program, Hope on the Streets, focused on activities and building friendships for disadvantaged youth

• $60,000 to Mai-Wel Limited for the Sensational Spaces project, which creates an innovative sensory stimulation space for people with a disability

• $48,400 to The Kaden Centre for their Home Exercise Oncology Platform, a web-based home exercise program for people affected by cancer and chronic health conditions.

Applying for a Charitable Foundation funding grant is a straightforward process, completed via an application portal on its website.

“We know there’s a lot of worthy programs looking for support, many of which are under considerable pressure right now, so we’re making it as easy as possible for organisations to apply. In addition to a range of tools to guide them through the application process, our website includes information on virtual grant-seeker workshops which we will hold in coming weeks,” said Mr Batten.

Applications for grants are open now. Apply via the Charitable Foundation website until 11.59pm on 22 October 2021.