Local not-for-profit community groups are encouraged to take advantage of a series of free Council Community Grants workshops to benefit their organisation.
Bundaberg Regional Council’s Community Grants program can assist not-for-profit groups navigate the SmartGrants online portal and also help to understand levels of funding and the essential selection criteria.
During the last year, community grants have assisted local organisations including Woodgate Men's Shed, Bundaberg Bowls Club and Phoenix House.
Attending one of the recent community grant writing workshops, Phoenix House's Joanne Lamond said she was able to gain a better understanding about a number of relevant topics.
She said this included information about the different types of grants available and who could apply for them.
“The workshop was a good balance between information and questions,” Joanne said.
“You were not left guessing on any part of the grant process.
“Everything was broken down into sections that were easy to understand.”
Joanne said Council staff ensured all participants understood everything they needed for their service, group or club.
“The workshop taught me that the Bundaberg local council wants to support local services, clubs, and groups as they make up the community,” Joanne said.
“The grants are a way to bring people together.
“Our grant was used to finance our therapeutic group programs for children, youth and adults.
“With grants like these, we can continue to provide free group programs for those needing support in the community.”
Bundaberg Bowls Club’s Alan Edgerton said he also found the community grant writing workshop to be beneficial.
“In recent times and on behalf of the Bundaberg Bowls Club, I have attended Bundaberg Regional Council workshops with relation to grant writing, and also for effective governance for not-for-profit clubs and organisations,” Alan said.
“(I) believe I have benefited from both workshops from knowledge gained of the requirements, procedures, expectations, and outcomes from both workshops, but more particularly from the grant writing workshop.
“BRC has opted for the SmartyGrants Portals format which clearly explains understanding the guidelines, following procedures, providing accurate details and encouraging writing concise and relative information within a word-limited layout.
“These topics and more were well identified and explained during the grant writing workshop I attended and the relative questions from the group were well answered.
“Overall, I believe attending the workshop and the hand-out material was beneficial to me and most helpful when completing applications and submissions and during the acquittal process.”
Alan said he would urge anyone not familiar with grant writing to attend one of the upcoming Council Community Grants workshops.
“I would highly recommend, and from experience know, that grant writers of any club or organisation would benefit from attending Council's grant writing workshops to fully understand the process and to greatly enhance their chances of a successful outcome,” he said.
“For me, personally, the reality of a successful grant submission is a very humbling and satisfying experience, any additional assistance to achieve this outcome is most essential and highly recommended.”
Anyone interested in attending one of Council’s community grant writing workshops can RSVP before 5 pm on Monday, 6 February, by phoning 4130 4150 or email: comdev@bundaberg.qld.gov.au
Council’s community grant writing workshops
Bundaberg
Wednesday, 8 February at 5.30-7.30 pm
Bundaberg Recreational Precinct, 7 Kendalls Road
Childers
Tuesday, 7 February at 10 am-noon
Isis Cultural Centre, supper room, 43 Churchill Street, Childers
Gin Gin
Thursday, 9 February 1-3 pm
Gin Gin Neighbourhood Centre
4 Dear Street, Gin Gin
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