While a large number of not-for-profit organisations have been doing it tough during COVID-19, Sunshine Coast Council is pleased to lend a helping hand through its COVID-19 Community Response Grants, which have been awarded today (Tuesday, 23 June).
Council received a record 351 grant applications following the announcement of the new grants, which were activated in May under council's COVID-19 Community Relief Plan.
The Plan brings together a range of initiatives as part of council's continuing response to the impacts being experienced by communities across our region.
The first phase of grants supports 97 successful applications, with priority given to community groups in most urgent financial need.
This grant will help meet many community groups' need for support towards operational costs, which are usually ineligible under council community grants.
Recipients include Belli Community Hall Association, Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra Inc, Glasshouse Mountains Sports Club, Nungeena Aboriginal Corporation for Women's Business, Yandina School of Arts, Peachester Community Hall Inc and Caloundra Community Centre.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said council plays a critical role during times such as this and it has been important to stand shoulder to shoulder with the region's community organisations as they manage through the impacts of the pandemic.
"Our council recognised early on that many community organisations were struggling to keep going at a time when the people they support likely need their assistance the most," Mayor Jamieson said.
"Our Sunshine Coast Community Strategy, which we adopted in November last year, provides a key platform for the partnerships that council seeks to pursue with the community services sector and the current circumstances really demonstrate how we can be of most value to these organisations in their time of greatest need.
"That is why we have put the COVID-19 Community Response Grants in place and we will see this strengthened further in council's Budget, which will be considered on Thursday this week."
Community Portfolio Councillor David Law said the community groups assisted in this first round of allocations would receive grants targeted towards keeping them going while dealing with the financial impact of COVID-19.
"Unfortunately, many eligible not-for-profit groups have lost revenue sources and experienced a surge in demand for services from individuals and families experiencing a rough time," Cr Law said.
"These are unusual circumstances, so we saw the need for a temporary program to offer operational funding help, as well as some project funding assistance.
"These grants have the added benefit of helping the local economy to tick along, with most applicants expected to use local suppliers and businesses.
"Sustaining these core community groups, which bind together our strong community in good times and bad, is something council is very proud to contribute towards."
Maroochydore Junior Rugby League Club President Paul McMillan said their $10,000 grant would largely help renovate their canteen.
"We have 10 organisations that use our club and (before COVID-19) up to 3000 people would visit the site every week, so we're very community minded," he said.
"This will benefit so many people including all the state and regional carnivals that are held here. This means we can offer more product and more income for the community."
Volunteering Sunshine Coast will receive nearly $5000 to purchase tech equipment enabling remote working and giving them the ability to establish productive flexible work arrangements in line with changing community need.
Sunshine Coast Family Contact Centre Association (SCFCCA) will receive more than $4000 to purchase necessary equipment to facilitate virtual supervised visitation for families living apart.
SCFCCA family support worker Lena said the grant was essential to help keep families connected.
"Our services are for families who are in conflict and/or experiencing domestic violence and cannot arrange a mutually agreeable or safe venue for child-parent contact," she said.
"This grant will enable us to provide additional services to clients, particularly those who may be at higher risk, live interstate and/or are vulnerable persons."
A stage two phase of successful applications from this grants program is anticipated to be announced in mid-July.
COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE GRANTS, ROUND 1, STAGE 1, FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT
Capacity Building
| Applicant |
Project |
Amount Funded |
||
| Maleny Neighbourhood Centre Assoc Inc. |
Systems review and improvement and strategic plan |
$2,000 |
||
Continuity and Connectivity
| Applicant |
Project |
Amount Funded |
||
| Eumundi School of Rock |
Program delivery |
$2,000 |
||
| Guides Queensland |
Equipment - Technology |
$3,932 |
||
| SevGen Indigenous Corporation |
NDIS-ready Consultant and Technology Equipment |
$3,600 |
||
| St Vincent de Paul Society Qld |
Equipment - Technology |
$1,000 |
||
| Sunny Kids Inc. |
Equipment - Technology |
$2,000 |
||
| Sunshine Charity Sewing Group |
Equipment - Technology |
$2,549 |
||
| Sunshine Coast Archery Club Inc. |
Equipment - Technology |
$1,000 |
||
| Sunshine Coast Family Contact Centre Association Inc. |
Equipment - Technology |
$4,091 |
||
| The Sunshine Coast Barbershop Chorus Inc. |
Virtual Meeting Software and Musical Director |
$2,000 |
||
| The Sunshine Coast Toy Library Inc. |
Equipment - Technology and software |
$868 |
||
| The Women's Shed Coolum Inc. |
Equipment and Virtual Meeting Software |
$2,000 |
||
| Volunteering Sunshine Coast Incorporated |
Equipment - Technology |
$4,985 |
||
Facility Improvement
| Applicant |
Project |
Amount Funded |
|
| Bli Bli United Football Club Inc. |
Resurface of floor outside of building |
$10,000 |
|
| Caloundra Football Club |
Replacement of Lights in Field Lighting |
$10,000 |
|
| Coolum Tennis Club Inc. |
Renovation of Kitchen at the Facility |
$10,000 |
|
| Glasshouse Country Horse and Pony Club Inc. |
Extension of Water Lines |
$5,862 |
|
| Landsborough Area Community Association Inc. |
Replacement of Disability Access Ramp at Facility |
$10,000 |
|
| Maleny Community Centre Inc. |
Removal of Mould in Verandah Room |
$2,273 |
|
| Maroochydore Junior Rugby League Club Inc. |
Refurbishment of Canteen at Facility |
$10,000 |
|
| Mudjimba Residents' Association Inc. |
Mudjimba Hall Floor Covering Replacement |
$10,000 |
|
| Nambour & Districts Netball Association Inc. |
Installation of Security Lighting and Sirens |
$4,220 |
|
| Nambour & Hinterland Australian Football Club Inc. |
Repainting Clubhouse and Undertaking Facility Maintenance |
$10,000 |
|
| Old Witta School Community Centre Inc. |
Sanding and Resealing Floors |
$5,149 |
|
| Petrie Park Craft Association Inc. |
Securing of Underneath of Facility |
$3,075 |
|
| Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association - Sunshine Coast Branch (Sunshine Coast PCYC) |
Refurbish Reception Area |
$9,815 |
|
| Yandina School of Arts Incorporated |
Restoration Project at Facility |
$5,973 |
|
Operational Maintenance
| Applicant |
Project |
Amount Funded |
| Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Assoc Inc - QF4 Caloundra |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$5,000 |
| Bamboo Projects Education Ltd. |
Ongoing operational expenses |
$2,000 |
| Beerwah Glasshouse United Football Club Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$4,950 |
| Beerwah Sportsground Management Committee Inc. |
Payment of water bill |
$5,000 |
| Belli Community Hall Association Inc. |
Operational Support |
$802 |
| Buderim Historical Society Inc. |
Facility Maintenance and Repairs at the Pioneer Cottage |
$3,329 |
| Buderim Horse and Pony Club Inc. |
Ongoing operational expenses |
$1,000 |
| Caloundra and District Rugby League Football Club Ltd |
Operational Support |
$2,000 |
| Caloundra Australian Rules Football Club Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$2,000 |
| Caloundra Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Caloundra Community Centre Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$5,000 |
| Caloundra Cricket Club Inc. |
Maintenance Support |
$4,000 |
| Coolum Football Club |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$2,000 |
| Coolum Men's Shed Inc. |
Operational Support |
$2,500 |
| Eumundi and District Pony Club |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$1,770 |
| Eumundi Chamber of Commerce Inc. |
Operational Support |
$2,000 |
| Friends of Pattemore House Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$564 |
| Fusion Australia Ltd |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$2,745 |
| Glass House Country Community Group Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$1,400 |
| Glasshouse Mountains Sports Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Glasshouse Mountains Touch Football Association Inc. |
Operational Support |
$4,778 |
| Global Care Australia trading as Suncoast Christian Care |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Kawana Football Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Kawana Rugby League Football Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$2,500 |
| Kawana Waters Surf Life Saving Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Kenilworth Bowling Club Incorporated |
Operational Support |
$2,550 |
| Mapleton Community Library Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$1,500 |
| Maroochy North Shore Lions Club |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$1,884 |
| Maroochy River Rowing Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Maroochydore Football Club Incorporated |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Maroochydore Rugby Union Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Maroochydore/Coolum Senior Rugby League Club Inc. |
Financial Support 2020 Season |
$5,000 |
| Montville Village Association Inc. |
Operational Support, Repairs, Cleaning and Safety Products, and Sundries |
$2,000 |
| Mooloolaba Outrigger Canoe Club Inc. |
Maintenance Support |
$2,500 |
| Nambour Bowls Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$1,500 |
| Nambour Croquet Club Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$2,500 |
| Nambour Lind Lane Theatre Inc. |
Operational Support |
$1,375 |
| Nambour Rugby League Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Nambour Rugby Union Football Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$4,000 |
| Naradell Inc. |
Operational Support |
$500 |
| North Shore Boardriders Inc. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| North Shore Junior Australian Football Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$2,500 |
| North Shore Multisports Association Inc. |
Operational Support |
$2,000 |
| Nungeena Aboriginal Corporation for Women's Business |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$5,000 |
| Ocean Street Precinct Incorporated |
Operational Support |
$2,838 |
| Palmwoods Cricket Club Inc. |
Maintenance Support |
$3,000 |
| Peachester Community Hall Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$4,500 |
| Peachester History Committee Inc. |
Operational Support |
$675 |
| Pelican Waters Bowls Club Inc. |
Ongoing operational expenses |
$4,933 |
| QCWA Beerwah |
Operational Support |
$4,408 |
| Queensland Air Museum |
Operational Support |
$2,843 |
| Rotary Club of Nambour Inc. |
Operational Support |
$3,000 |
| Sonshine Sanctuary Association Incorp. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show Society Inc. |
Operational Support |
$5,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Arts and Crafts Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$4,987 |
| Sunshine Coast Churches Soccer Association Inc |
Insurance Payment |
$3,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Gymnastics Academy |
Operational Support |
$2,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Netball Association |
Operational Support |
$2,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Paddlesports Club Incorporated |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$2,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Racing Pigeon Assn. Inc. |
Operational Support |
$2,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Railway Modelers Society Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$2,096 |
| Sunshine Coast Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Inc. |
Operational Support |
$4,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Square Dance Centre Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$4,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra Inc. |
Operational Support |
$2,670 |
| Sunshine Coast Yacht Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$2,500 |
| Woombye Community & Business Association |
Operational Support |
$2,418 |
| Woombye Snakes Football Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$3,000 |
| Yandina & District Historical Society Inc. |
Operational and Maintenance Support |
$3,400 |
| Yandina Community Gardens Inc. |
Operational and Vandalism Repair Support |
$2,000 |
| Yandina Cricket Club Inc. |
Operational Support |
$3,000 |
