Wagga community groups encouraged to apply for $10k Kickstart funding boost

Wagga community groups are invited to apply for the $10,000 Community Kickstart Grants Program.

Wagga Wagga Marketplace parent company ISPT’s (Industry Superannuation Property Trust) Community Kickstart Grants Program provides funding and support for community groups to continue their important work in Wagga.

Marketplace community marketing manager Chloe Sutton said the grant was offered to any community group looking to kickstart a local program.

“We give to any community group that’s going to change the lives or the situations of our community,” Chloe said. “It could be a sporting group looking to go to the next level at states or the worlds carnival, or a community group looking to help others in other settings.

“It could also be a community club that needs a renovation so that it can host more events and make themselves more aware.

“The grant is more to supplement their continued activities, promote them, and take them to the next level.”

The Marketplace has been running the Kickstart program for three years, and Country Hope and Carevan were the previous winners.

“We would like to continue with these relationships not just when they receive the grant but for future activities,” Chloe said.

“Carevan has been able to increase the number of meals it provides to the community and get better, high-quality resources to fund the kitchen.

“We’ve also been able to supplement them with other programs – the ongoing Cans For Carevan donation drive.”

Chloe said the Marketplace was also offering a free grant application-writing workshop.

“Sometimes, grants can be a little daunting to write,” she said.

“If you’re very new to writing, or you’re not quite sure, you can sign up for our free workshop.

“It will give you not only the skills to apply for our grant, but other grants too.”

The grant application-writing workshop will cover information on the Community Kickstart Grant, best practices of grant application writing, and a detailed Q&A with the Community Kickstart Grant team.

The $10,000 community grant program is open to:

• All registered organisations that provide benefits to the community.
• Local community groups and voluntary organisations. Organisations not based within the local community must be able to demonstrate a benefit to members who live in the local community.
• Only organisations/community groups that hold an Australian Business Number (ABN).

Everyone is encouraged to apply. If you’re not sure about any of the questions, or what they mean, contact Chloe at the centre on (02) 6931 7277.

Applications are open until 25 August and can be submitted here.

The free grant application-writing workshop is on Tuesday, 13 August, from 6 pm to 8 pm. Bookings are essential.