It was another successful year of community grants at Bundaberg Regional Council with a greater diversity of groups applying in 2023.
The year kicked off with one of the biggest rounds of applications in round one of the Community Services Program, with ten applications and six micro grant applications all approved in the same month.
From sporting clubs to cultural groups, the non-profit sector, social groups, community events and religious organisations, the program allowed the community to connect and provide safe, inclusive and accessible opportunities for even more participants across the region.
Organisations showed how they were prioritising the health and safety of their members with an increase in applications for accessible ramps for facilities, fire extinguishers, marquees, defibrillators and other risk management items.
In addition to the grant funding available, Council also offered the free hire of loan equipment to local not-for-profit groups including a BBQ trailer, grandstands and waste bins, all of which were well used across the year at several community events and activities.
One notable application to the Community Grants Program was the ‘Clothes Basket Open Day: Giving In-Giving Out’ by the Bundaberg Church of the Nazarene.
The project aligned with Council’s Community Development Strategy and aimed to address the housing and cost-of-living crisis in the region by providing free clothes to community members in need.
The Clothes Basket Open Day is set to take place in March this year and will provide public access to free clothing with no questions asked, with volunteers available for support as well as a play area for children and refreshments available.
2023 also saw a strong increase in the capacity of groups and the standard of applications received, with many applicants taking the opportunities throughout the year to attend grant workshops or one-on-one consultations with our Community Development team.
Those looking to build their capacity in grant writing or navigating the systems this year can book a one-on-one consultation with Community Development officers here.
Consultations will be held between 5 and 9 February with one-hour timeslots available between 10 am and 3 pm.
Key Community Grant stats 2023:
- Community Services Program: 33 applications (8 more than last year) – 25 approved (9 more than last year)
- Micro Grant 30 applications (10 more than last year) – 26 approved (11 more than last year)
Total grant funding approved for 2023:
Community Services Program – $57,816
Micro Grants – $27,267.50
Total = $85,083.50
2023 Community Grant applications approved:
• Bundaberg Church of the Nazarene – $4,500
• Bundaberg Pensioners League Inc. – $4,500
• Childers Junior Rugby League – $3,800
• Drivers College Limited – $3,000
• Gin Gin Mature Women’s Group – $3,000
• Phoenix House Association Inc. – $1,466
• Elliott Heads Bowls Club Inc. – $4,000
• Just Rock Bundaberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance and Car Club Inc. – $1,500
• Woodgate Community Events Inc. – $3,800
• Diggers Football Club Inc. – $5,000
• Rum City Vintage Machinery Club Inc. – $4,150
• Woodgate Club Inc. – $4,250
• Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club Inc. – $3,500
• Childers Touch Association – $3,850
• Avondale and District Pony Club – $3,500
• Bundaberg and District Junior Tennis Association – $4,000
• Childers Quilters Inc. – $790
• Bundaberg Bush House and Garden Club Inc. – $964
• The Rotary Club of Bundaberg Inc. – $800
• Wide Bay Advocacy Inc. – $1,000
• Childers Touch Association – $917
• Bundaberg Barbarians Rugby Club – $1,000
• Monduran Aero Club – $985
• Bundaberg Indian Malayali Association – $1,000
• Childers Junior Rugby League – $999.50
• Brothers Junior Rugby League Club Inc. – $834
• Moore Park SLSC Club – $690
• Avenell Heights Hall Association – $1,000
• Cancer Council QLD – $650
• CatholicCare Central Queensland – $1,000
• Quota Club of Bundaberg Inc – $910
•            Gin Gin Scout Group – $1,000
• Gin Gin Bowls Club – $1,000
• Bundaberg Legacy Inc. – $850
• Sailability Bundaberg Inc. – $1,000
• Bundaberg and District Mixed Probus Club Inc. – $1,000
• Bundaberg Badminton Club Inc. – $1,000
• Isis District Historical Society Inc. – $1,000
• Coral Isle Cyclist – $1,000
• Gin Gin RSL Subbranch – $1,000
• Bundaberg Small Bore Rifle Club Inc. – $976
