The Hills Shire Council has awarded eight Community Grants equating to a total of $43,776 during an Ordinary Meeting of Council on 10th May 2022.
The Grants, which were part of Council’s Community Grant’s Program 2021-2022, were issued for projects which ranged from improving pathways at Bella Vista Farm to providing trauma yoga teacher training, reinvigorating a therapy garden, providing an educational family conference, as well as supporting a jazz music festival and classical music concerts.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Peter Gangemi said the Program provides support to local community groups and not-for-profits so that they can deliver meaningful projects that are vital to the community.
“One of Council’s goals is to ensure The Hills remains a connected and inclusive region, and Council’s Community Grants Program does just that,” Mayor Gangemi said.
“It assists community groups and not-for-profits, which are normally run by hard-working and dedicated volunteers, to make their dream projects and services a reality. These projects in turn encourage community participation and engagement, and they also provide ongoing and lasting benefits to the region.
“I’m very proud that Council can assist these groups in this way, which is particularly important as we bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mayor Gangemi added.
The projects that secured funding under the Community Grant Program 2021-2022 include:
Friends of Bella Vista Farm
Repair existing gravel paths inside the heritage area and the front gardens of Bella Vista Farm.
Grant: $5,000
Frontline Yoga Inc
To hold two Trauma Aware Yoga Teacher Sessions within the Hills District. These sessions will allow the then qualified teachers to join Frontline Yoga INC’s volunteer teachers group to provide trauma aware yoga classes to the local frontline personnel (current, retired, ex-serving) within the Hills District.
Grant: $3,000
RDA Tall Timbers
RDA Tall Timbers to reinvigorate their therapy garden and add a fence to improve safety.
Grant: $1,706
Fit Kidz Foundation
To help Fit Kidz Foundation’s Butterfly Connection Community Access Project to run a Connecting & Supporting Families Conference at Castle Hill RSL on Saturday 20th August. The conference is for parents and carers of children and adults with disability. The conference aims to connect families in the local community, and to provide information and resources to help them reduce isolation, anxiety and stress.
Grant: $9,500
Rotary Club of Kenthurst
To assist with updating playground equipment at the Rotary Park in Kenthurst.
Grant: $8,070
Norwest Anglican Church
To support Norwest Anglican Church to put on a jazz concert, called Norwest Jazz on the Green. It will be a picnic style event to be held on the grounds adjacent to Crestwood Reserve in Baulkham Hills. The concert will be open to all community members.
Grant: $4,000
Hills Shire Symphony Orchestra
To assist the Hills Shire Symphony Orchestra to put on four concerts as part of their 2022 season.
Grant: $5,000
Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra
To assist the Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra to provide four concerts in the Hills Shire. Directly corresponding to these concerts, the Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra will continue to run the Hills Youth Orchestra and the Hills Junior Orchestra, which provides training for young people, aged from 8 to 22, in the Hills Local Government Area (LGA).
Grant: $7,500
Council’s Community Grants Program provides funding, between $1000 and $15,000, for projects that fall within Council’s priority areas including: events that connect the community; domestic violence prevention and recovery; mental health and suicide prevention; and community participation opportunities.
“It is so fulfilling to watch these projects and services grow, and become self-sufficient, which is what our Program is all about,” Mayor Gangemi added.
