City offers temporary grants to support local volunteers and reactivate local community groups

The City of Greater Bendigo is offering temporary Love your Local Volunteers – Community Group Reactivation Grants to assist community groups to recover from COVID-19.

Through the Community Group Reactivation Grants local incorporated not for profit community groups and organisations will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $3,000.

City of Greater Bendigo Health and Wellbeing Director Vicky Mason said the temporary grants are in addition to the City’s normal Community Grants Program.

“The Community Group Reactivation Grants are a direct response to the impact COVID-19 has had on the traditional sources of volunteers that community groups rely on to provide the essential services, events, sports, recreation, arts and culture activities they deliver,” Ms Mason said.

“Volunteering is an integral part of the Greater Bendigo community and according to the last census 23.1 per cent of people aged over 15 years volunteer in our community which is considerably higher than the Victorian average of 19.2 per cent.

“However, Volunteering Australia recently reported that up to two thirds of volunteers have ceased volunteering as a result of the pandemic.

“This means community organisations need some help to recommence their activities, engage with previous volunteers, recruit new volunteers, grow memberships and community participation.

“The aim of the grants will be to support initiatives that encourage the reactivation of volunteers, members, community participation and the promotion of opportunities to increase community connections and networks to recover from the disruption of COVID-19.

Applications for the grants will be accepted until June 30, 2021. The application assessment is expected to take approximately three to four weeks to process from when they are submitted.

Between April and June this year the City also provided temporary COVID-19 Essential grants to support relief and recovery-based activities within the community. Through this funding over 20 organisations shared in a total of over $180,000 in funding.

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