The NSW Government is helping kids get active with the Active Kids program.

The Active Kids program provides two $100 vouchers for parents, guardians and carers of school-enrolled children to use towards sport and active recreation costs each year.

Voucher 1 is valid January to December and Voucher 2 is valid July to December.

The vouchers may be used with a registered activity provider for registration, participation and membership costs for sport, fitness and active recreation activities.

To use a voucher, find a registered activity provider and present your voucher when you sign up.

The Active Kids program is one of more than 70 NSW Government rebates and savings that help with your cost of living.

FRRR has a number of Grants that open at different times of the year, most of their Grants are recurrent and generally offered around the same time each year. 

The FRRR Grants calendar allows you to check the current status of each program and the respective opening and closing dates. Follow this link to the calendar: http://www.frrr.org.au/grant_calendar.php 

For example the Tackling Tough Times Together program helps communities access the resources they need to support one another through the drought. Open year round, grants up to $20,000 and $60,000 are available, with EOIs invited for grants up to $150,000.  Applications due 25 February 2020. 

For smaller communities, regular access to funds can be a challenge, which is why FRRR  have created the Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program. It has two tiers and the Small & Vital program is now open all year, with applications assessed quarterly. SRC - Small & Vital Round 5 Opens Friday, 20 December 2019. EOIs for the Larger Leverage tier was due 5pm AEDT Tuesday, 4 February 2020. Cut off date for applications is 5pm AEDT Tuesday, 24 March 2020

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network - Community Grants 

The Government is taking immediate steps to roll out extra mental health support initiatives to help farmers and communities to deal with the uncertainty, stress and anxiety of drought conditions.

Murrumbidgee PHN (MPHN) is pleased to offer the Murrumbidgee Community Grants program.

The recent UNICEF drought report showed the impacts of prolonged drought on children and young people and was the catalyst for creating this grant opportunity.

Activities eligible for funding through the Murrumbidgee Youth Community Grants initiative will address immediate support needs, but also foster longer term recovery and resilience. These could include community orientated wellbeing activities and training, or workforce capability development projects specifically aimed at young people aged up to 25 years of age.

Community-led wellbeing initiatives should be group focused and could include:

• Workshops promoting resilience and reduce stigma associated with mental illness and accessing mental health and suicide prevention services;

• Complementary and lifestyle interventions known to improve physical and mental health, that can be delivered in a group setting, such as exercise classes, relaxation and yoga classes, mindfulness meditation classes; and

• Community education on topics such as managing stress, anxiety, depression and stigma.

Applications for grants are open. Current round applications close Friday 27 March 2020. Grant activities must be complete by 30 June 2020. For more information about the Murrumbidgee Community Grants and how & where to apply visit the website here. https://mphn.org.au/drought-support/

PPCA Performers' Trust Foundation - Ongoing Program

Provides ongoing grants to promote and encourage music and the performing arts.The grants provided are non-recurring (i.e. one-off grants rather than a periodical payment) and  must be for one or more of the following purposes:

• Performances at concerts at or for charitable institutions such as hospitals or homes for the aged;

• Scholarships for the promotion and encouragement of musical and theatrical education;

• The promotion and encouragement of the performing arts to the general public;

• The aid or assistance of any beneficiary who is unable to adequately maintain herself/himself by her/his own exertions and other income

For more information on the PPCA Performers' Trust Foundation, contact the PPCA on (02) 8569 1100 or visit: http://www.ppca.com.au/ppca-about-us/ppca-performers-trust-foundation/

RASF Community Futures Grant Program

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation (RASF) is offering an opportunity for community-minded people to be awarded up to $25,000 in funding for drought and bushfire recovery community projects in their local area.

Previously funding has gone to projects including air-conditioning in the local hall to portable yard panels for the showground or a pop-up gazebo, satisfying community needs and benefiting many. This year the funding is targeting regional recovery following the destruction of community facilities and projects devastated by the ongoing drought and current bushfire crisis.

Taking part is easy:

• Identify a need in your rural NSW community

• Partner with a local community organisation

• Create a project plan for your initiative

Eligibility criteria

The 2020 Grant program is focussed on bushfire and drought recovery projects, to be eligible applicants must also be a resident of the rural NSW community the project will benefit. Applications for the 2020 RAS Foundation Community Futures Grant will close Sunday 1 March 2020.

To find out how your community could benefit and to apply click on the link: http://www.rasnsw.com.au/foundation/grants/community-futures-grant/

RASF Rural Scholarship Fund - Scholarships for 2021 open July 2020 

Students in regional areas often have to relocate in order to study, leaving behind the support of family and friends and feeling torn between their education and their obligations. Fortunately, assistance in the form of a scholarship can help ease some worries and allow greater freedom to more regularly visit home and lend a hand.

This is more important than ever, with many RASF Rural Scholarship recipients coming from drought-stricken towns and farms that need all hands helping whenever possible. Many applicants mention the financial burden of needing to return home to help in holidays and the resulting lost opportunity to work.

The Rural Scholarship program goes a small way to ensure students from regional areas can chase the same education dreams as students in the city and suburbs.

Rural Scholarships are available to support individuals in NSW who demonstrate a passion for rural communities and commitment for any career that will ensure the future success of rural and regional NSW. Scholarships of $6,000 for full-time study or $3,000 for part-time study are available. Applicants for a Rural Scholarship must:

• Be enrolled in or applying for study in any accredited tertiary course at an approved Australian education provider

• Demonstrate a desire to contribute to the future of rural NSW

• Demonstrate how a scholarship would assist them in achieving their education or training goal

• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident

Applications for a 2020 scholarship are now closed, however applications for 2021 RAS Foundation Rural Scholarships will open in July 2020. Find out more here: http://www.rasnsw.com.au/foundation/scholarships/ras-rural-scholarships/

Regional Arts NSW

TransGrid Community Partnerships Program 

TransGrid’s Community Partnerships Program is offering grants for community groups and non-for-profit organisations within our region. 

For more information and to find out who can apply please visit this link: https://www.transgrid.com.au/partnerships or or by Free call to: 1800 222 537 

All Community Groups and members are encouraged to take advantage of any free Grant Writer’s workshops provided by Council. 

Useful Apps & Online tools

http://www.nptechforgood.com/2016/02/28/36-useful-apps-online-tools-for-nonprofits/