2020 grant recipients & NRCF team
2020 Community Grant Recipients
A record 33 inspiring Northern Rivers community organisations were awarded Community Grants for 2020, thanks to our generous NRCF donors and funding partners, including Yulgilbar Foundation, Portland House, FRRR and the James Frizelle Charitable Foundation. To view photos from the Grant Giving Ceremony held at Lismore Regional Gallery on 12 November 2019, click here.
GRAFTON JACARANDA FESTIVAL
$6,000 Grafton Jacaranda Festival - A Visual History – The 2020 feature artist for the Jacaranda Festival will compile an audio-visual display including, film, audio and still images, to be displayed throughout the Festival. Part of this display will include titles from the National Film and Sound Archive that highlight the history of the town and the Festival, building civic pride and raising awareness.
Supported by Yulgilbar Foundation
THE BUTTERY
$7,200 Youth Connection: Early Intervention Program for At Risk Youth
12-20 year-olds with substance misuse, behavioural and/or mental health issues. This is a new iteration of the previous Therapeutic MMA program. It now uses group and individual counselling, martial arts and training in leadership, nutrition/healthy life-style to foster connection for disengaged youth.
LIBERATION LARDER
$9,000 - Safe Space Social / Mental Health Worker - To provide a trained social /mental health care worker on the street and surrounds of the Byron Bay Community Centre Fletcher St Kitchen when nourishing meals and fresh food is made available to the homeless people in need.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
RIDING FOR THE DISABLED BALLINA
$2,065 Safety poly belting for horse stalls
The project will purchase and install polly belting on the horse stalls for safety purposes while the horses are resting.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
BYRON YOUTH SERVICE
$5,613 – Sound Exchange will upgrade defunct sound and P/A equipment at the Byron Youth Activity Centre (YAC), to create a mobile sound and event resource. Two intensive workshops will support ten at-risk youth to develop skills in sound production, dj'ing and event management. An additional 200 young people will access performances and events supported by the mobile sound resource.
MURWILLUMBAH COMMUNITY CENTRE
$2,400 - InspiringYOU - Young Womens Group – is a program designed for young women, by young women. It is aimed at strengthening skills, providing community connections, improving wellbeing, building confidence and encouraging healthy relationships.
GUNAWIRRA
$8,000 - Supporting Coraki and Jarjum preschool staff with traumatised Aboriginal children – Through the medium of art and clay, Gunawirra's art therapists enable traumatised Aboriginal children to tell their own stories and express emotions, facilitating these safe spaces in the playgrounds of Jarjum and Coraki preschools every fortnight. By adding mentoring to the teachers, this therapy creates a far-reaching ripple effect.
BYRON HERB NURSERY
$4,700 – Gardening equipment storage lockup - To construct a secure storage area for mowing and gardening equipment. The Herb Nursery’s new gardening business employs local youth at disadvantage to provide garden maintenance services for people living with a disability in the Northern Rivers region.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
THE WINSOME & LISMORE SOUP KITCHEN
$4,000 - Winsome Homeless to Home Project– New flooring for The Winsome accommodation for marginalised men in the community. The project will utilise volunteer resident labour to strip and repair, paint and plaster walls, prepare the metal ceilings, remove the old carpet prior to the professional laying of new woollen underlay and carpet to then welcome broken homeless men to a new life.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
BANGLAOW MEN’S SHED
$5,125– Nursery Walkway / Wheelchair Access Ramp - The installation of a walkway / access ramp to provide access for people with restricted mobility to the Bangalow Men’s Shed (BMS) nursery. This will facilitate the inclusion of a wide range of persons in activities important to many, especially those unable to participate in other shed activities.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
BALLINA SHIRE MEALS ON WHEELS
$6,073 - Essential upgrade of Computer System - Ballina Shire Meals on Wheels is reliant on a complex computer system to run its client’s services and financial programs. The upgrading of the computer system will reduce risk of service interruption and loss of data.
WOMEN UP NORTH HOUSING
$2,000 - LOVE BiTES DVD Project, a teaching & educational resource made from last year's Love Bites workshops - The project will enable the compilation and production of a DVD teaching and educational aid / resource; comprising of music and art work resulting from the LOVE BiTES workshops delivered by WUNH to year 10 students last year.
HUMAN NATURE ADVENTURE THERAPY
$8,010 - Activ8 – outreach therapeutic mentoring for disadvantaged and at-risk young people - One in four young people in the Northern Rivers struggle with mental illness and can't access much needed support due to financial constraints, lack of accessibility, and stigma. Activ8 is an innovative nature-based community outreach project providing intensive trauma-informed therapeutic mentoring for the most at-risk young people in our communities.
Supported by Yulgilbar Foundation
LITTLE WINGS LIMITED
$9,552 Little Wings Children's Hospital Flight Program - Northern Rivers – Since 2012, Little Wings has provided free, non-emergency flights and ground transport service for seriously ill children and their families located in country NSW. The Children's Hospital Flight Program supports families from rural and regional NSW with a child suffering from a serious and chronic illness such as cancer.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
ZERO EMISSIONS
$5,500 – Replant Byron – Growing our future now! Zero Emissions Byron aims to reduce Byron Shire emissions to zero by 2025 to combat climate change. Drawing carbon into trees and the soil are key solutions. A planting day and free Regenerative Agriculture workshop at The Farm in Ewingsdale will involve the community directly in a fun and practical way.
BANGALOW KOALAS
$4,770 - Community Wildlife Corridor - Protecting the Northern Rivers Koalas – to enhance, protect and conserve habitat for EPBC Act and BC Act threatened species and ecological communities including vulnerable koala and critically endangered Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia. The project will connect koala habitat and rainforest remnants in a wildlife corridor.
POTTSVILLE BEACH NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
$8,900 – Women's Healing Beyond Trauma Project- will provide group sessions of nurturing and healing activities for women impacted by violence-related trauma. It will be provided at two locations – Murwillumbah and Pottsville and provided free for women who are participating in trauma counselling and child and family support activities.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
VIBE CARE
$7,711 - Community Pantry - providing free and low cost food for disadvantaged families in the Tweed region, helping disadvantaged families save significantly on their shopping bill. Free fruit n veg and bread, and low cost food will be provided to up to 600 families per week.
James Frizelle Foundation
BRUNSWICK VALLEY LANDCARE, auspiced by Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre
$10,000 - Growing Seeds of Hope: Connecting Schools to Regenerative Agriculture - Drought resilience and soil and food health in farming and food production are now key social issues. Regenerative agriculture with its focus on these key issues will be a way forward, globally. This project will connect high school students with farmers and indigenous practitioners. They will be the agents of change for future generations.
Supported by Yulgilbar Foundation
This project will also receive matched funding from Stone & Wood
WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Educational Services)
$4,220 Two Modular Relocatable Wildlife Aviaries for Volunteer Wildlife Carers – aviaries to suit various species; mainly possums, gliders or birds. The flat panels can be transported on a large trailer, assembled on site, dismantled and relocated according to need.
KYOGLE FAMILY SUPPORT
$2,438- Muli Muli Community garden– The local community of Muli Muli, combined with the Aboriginal Ladies Corporation and Kyogle Family Support Services, aim to meet the community's desire for a community garden. This will provide life-skills, a safe meeting place, and a greater connection to community through community development.
BUNDJALUNG OF BYRON BAY ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (ARAKWAL)
$9,111 - Arakwal Bush Regeneration Team- To create an Arakwal Bush Regeneration team that will get the Arakwal people back on Country and working in Bush Regeneration in the Northern Rivers regions. This is a service that is much in demand and cannot yet be fulfilled by the Arakwal because they need the equipment and tools to be able to do it.
WOLLUMBIN FAMILY SUPPORT
$8,310 - "Finding Me" Domestic Violence Recovery Group- FINDING ME is a facilitated support group that promotes recovery from Domestic Violence by providing a safe, non-judgmental and inclusive environment where participants can access information, support, and connection. The program addresses the complex issues and emotions felt after experiencing abuse and empowers participants to reconnect and heal from trauma.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
HART (Home Assistance and Regional Transport)
$3,950 - Cultural Immersion Learning Experience for volunteers and staff of HART - HART Services volunteers and staff will experience the Banaam facilitated training which takes people on a practical journey to foster understanding of the theoretical framework for indigenous culture. Banaam brings, history, language, song-line and relationship to country, truly alive.
Supported by Yulgilbar Foundation
ROTARY CLUB OF MURWILLUMBAH
$3,000 Murwillumbah High School Mental Health First Aid Project – The project is to provide the Teens Mental Health First Aid Program to year 8 of approximately 100 students and the 14 hour Mental Health First Aid course to 5 School Staff from Murwillumbah High School in 2020.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
JARIUM CENTRE
$4,124 Homework Hub Technology Project – Jarjum Homework hub provides support for up to 40 Indigenous children aged 6-12 years to stay engaged in education each week. The HH Technology Project will provide our Jarjums with three Laptops and software to provide internet access to assist with homework tasks.
TWEED PALLIATIVE SUPPORT AND WEDGETAIL RETREAT
$5,200 Bereavement Support Program – Provide bereavement support in the form of a professionally led 4-week program four times per year for the community of the Tweed and surrounding regions.
NGULINGAH LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL
$6,500 Gundurimba Community Building Project – To build the cohesion and participation in Gundurimba Community through the development of community facilities, events and projects.
FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK
$3,480 Little upgrade of kitchen appliances at the premises of the South Lismore supported playgroup – Healthy eating workshops – providing education to families on cooking healthy, affordable meals for their family. The current kitchen appliances are at the end of their life. A new fridge, microwave, dishwasher, stove, mixer, toaster and a pantry are needed to provide these workshops.
Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation
NORTH COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$10,000 Indigenous Land Management Employment Pathway – To inspire & nurture new opportunities for independence and prosperity for the aboriginal community through resourcing and development of an education and training program in Agriculture, Australian Native Foods industry and Indigenous Land Management.
BYRON YOUTH THEATRE
$6,000 How on Earth? An original theatre production focusing on the complex issues of eco-anxiety and ecological despair – Byron Youth Theatre will consult with local and national ecological, health and wellbeing organisations to create an original production focusing on the complex issues of eco-anxiety and ecological despair. The production will be delivered to local schools in the region as well as providing a public forum.
ABESTOSIS AND MESOTHELIOMA ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
$2,068 Asbestos safety and eradication information day for 'fibro alley'– An informative, interactive day about asbestos- where it can be found; who and how it can be safely removed and disposed of; what to do if you think you have been exposed; legal options; medical options and support information for those diagnosed with an asbestos related disease.
REKINDLING THE SPIRIT
$5,400 – Creative Skills Intensive Program run during the school holidays to increase social and emotional well-being through an art space - Creating confidence, self-identity and team building through a range of creative activities and experiences for young Aboriginal people in the Lismore area.