Vulnerable people in communities across Queensland will be supported by eight new church initiatives funded by Carinity's Collaborative Community Projects.
Baptist churches in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Maryborough, Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast have been awarded grants through the second round of the funding program.
Almost $500,000 in funds will be allocated to fund eight new projects and continue support for 10 existing projects who received multi-year commitments of support in the inaugural round of Collaborative Community Projects in 2022.
Carinity's Marketing and Communications Manager, Brett Maunder, said the projects will help to relieve and mitigate disadvantage, promote connectivity for vulnerable people, and increase the strength of local neighbourhoods.
"These sustainable ventures range from holistic community hubs providing a range of outreach services to grass-roots activities like ensuring people doing it tough can continue to access affordable food. It is truly exciting to see the range of support that Queensland Baptist churches are providing to vulnerable members of our community," Brett said.
The second round of Collaborative Community Projects funding recipients are:
- Annerley Baptist Church, Brisbane
- Beacon Community - A Baptist Church, Ipswich
- LIVE Baptist Church, Sunshine Coast
- Maryborough Baptist Church, Maryborough
- Mosaic - A Baptist Church, Gold Coast
- Reedy Creek Baptist Church, Gold Coast
- Rivers Baptist Church, Moreton Bay
- The House of Prayer, Brisbane
A new project from LIVE Baptist Church will provide support for children in the southern Sunshine Coast area who are experiencing trauma and provide healthy restorative experiences. Funding will provide training and professional development and create resources for staff and volunteers.
In Ipswich, Beacon Community - A Baptist Church will use its funding to establish a Community Health and Wellbeing Hub at Leichhardt. It will include free counselling services, a drop-in centre, support groups, and food provision, with other services to be added as the project grows.
In partnership with Education Queensland and the Queensland Police Service, Rivers Baptist Church in Moreton Bay will support Rivers Youth Versatile Education and Training School. This project aims to engage and empower vulnerable youth, aged 12 to 14 years, in a flexible learning environment.
Maryborough Baptist Church will establish a local Creating Opportunities and Casting Hope (COACH) mentoring program. COACH helps to empower those facing disadvantage and build resilience through one-to-one mentoring.
People living in Brisbane will be supported by two new programs funded by the Collaborative Community Projects.
An initiative of Annerley Baptist Church, the Community Lunch provides food - and a sense of belonging - to those in need. The weekly gathering also provides an entry point for existing programs established to assist the homeless and socially isolated.
To increase access to produce and food items, whilst creating an avenue for an enhanced sense of place and belonging, The House of Prayer will expand its Neighbourhood Marketplace. The Pallara-based church currently serves over 200 household through its community food pantry each week.
On the Gold Coast, an outreach of Mosaic Baptist Church will offer free non-perishable food hampers to people in Mudgeeraba and surrounding suburbs. Reedy Creek Baptist Church will add shade structures to a playground area used by community groups and op-shop and café customers.
