Could your rural or regional community use grant funds in order to provide community support, build capacity and provide resilience for the future? Calling all community groups and not-for-profit organisations with a desire to support their community members in need.
With this horrid drought taking its toll upon primary producers, businesses and many communities… support and connection is the key. It is not only our farmers doing it tough, but money is not being spent as much in our rural and regional towns and children are feeling the stress alongside their parents… so everyone is affected in some way.
The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) is an organisation that works in partnership with philanthropy, government and business. Since 2000 the FRRR has been connecting rural Australia and promoting the welfare of others, through their grants to strengthen rural, regional and remote communities.
Their Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) grant program helps communities access the resources they may need to positively support one another through the ongoing effects of the drought. This program is designed to provide flexible funding to support community-based activities that help to relieve the current stress factors as well as provide the capacity to build resilience for the future. Grant funds could also support activities that engage your local community in being proactive and exploring their options with the tough times upon us all.
With thanks to the generous support of FRRR and their donor partners, grants of up to $20,000 are now available across drought-affected communities nationally. A smaller number of grants valued at up to $60,000 and $150,000 are also available for larger-scale and multi-year projects that have a broader impact.
If you are interested in applying for a community grant, please see the Tackling Tough Times Together (TTTT) webpage for more information. If you need assistance with submitting a grant application or could use some help with the correct wording of your application, please contact me. In my business capacity, I can add my writing and administration services into the grant application funding, if necessary.
I do believe support, networking and community engagement is necessary to tackle the stress of this drought and protect the mental health of our communities. If you have an innovative idea or thoughts about how you could support your community with a project, please make the necessary enquiries to put your plan into action.
We are all in this together. Let’s help support our great communities and the wonderful people that need our strength and guidance. With farmers feeling the physical exhaustion, financial stress and mental anguish of dealing with this drought… and the rest of the community trying to take on some of the load… we need a supportive plan to be put into action.
It is more important than ever that we unite our skills and cooperate to bring much-needed support and relief into our communities. We do have strength in numbers!
Karen Weller Business Services 