2022/2023 Community Grant Recipients, Donors & Northern Rivers Community Foundation Staff
2022/23 Community Small Grant Recipients
Small Grants funding stream $121,173
NRCF’s signature Small Grants program supports four priority areas of Recovery and Resilience; Disadvantage; Environment and Housing and Homelessness, with grants of up to $10,000.
Recipients include groups and organisations working in, and projects supporting impact areas including: aged services, homelessness support, health and wellbeing, conservation and environment, education and training, disability, family support, Indigenous community support, arts and culture, multicultural integration, youth programs, animal welfare and wildlife conservation.
This program is supported by the generosity of our network of NRCF donors and funding partners including James Frizelle Charitable Foundation and the Portland House Foundation.
LOCAL CONNECTS TO GLOBAL
The United Nations has adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030. Each project in our 2022/23 Community Grants round is relevant to at least two of the goals as outlined below.
Arts Northern Rivers Inc
PATHWAYS LAB | INDIGENOUS YOUTH CONNECTIONS TO THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
PATHWAYS LAB is a mentorship program that offers direct support to five First Nations artists/culture producers from Widjabul Wiabul country. The program will be delivered via a two-day intensive and ongoing 1:1 mentorship over a 12-month period, to develop the leadership skills of emerging practitioners and grow their capacity to deliver cultural activities in the region.
Ballina Region For Refugees
THE BALLINA BYRON SETTLEMENT PROGRAMME
The Ballina Byron Settlement Program has been established within the Ballina Region for Refugees to support the settlement of asylum seekers and refugees in the Northern Rivers through building social networks which offer practical support. The Ballina Byron Settlement Program has been accepted under the new Australian government's CRISP community sponsorship scheme. Through this scheme, small community groups are formed to settle Australian government approved refugees.
Clarence Environment Centre
TECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Until recently, the Clarence Environment Centre (CEC) has been run by volunteers and a small bush regeneration team. Pat and John Edwards have been the driving force behind the CEC’s activities, however, at the end of this financial year, they will be retiring from the committee and day-today running of the Centre. A succession plan has now begun to ensure their legacy, experience and knowledge are available and documented for the CEC to continue to protect the Clarence Valley and its catchments.
Coolamon Community Incorporated
COOLAMON COMMUNITY NORTHERN RIVERS EXPANSION
The Coolamon Community Northern Rivers Expansion initiative extends our reach to all Northern Rivers Aboriginal Health Services, from the Clarence to Tweed and inland to Casino and Kyogle. We help build the trusted supportive healthcare connection between Aboriginal Health Services and Aboriginal Mothers by the provision of the Coolamon Crib to vulnerable preterm First Nations women, containing all the essentials for those first months for them and their baby.
CWA Nimbin Branch
MAKING OUR ROOM A LONG TERM, VIABLE SPACE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE
We would like to install Whirlygigs on the roof to improve ventilation and air circulation in our Summer Wet Season and to also install a split system Air Conditioner to make our room a long-term viable space and community resource not only for all our CWA Branch activities but for all community members and organisations with whom we work.
Goonellabah Tucki Landcare Incorporated
REGENERATION AND REVEGETATION OF UPPER TUCKI TUCKI CREEK
To plant native rainforest trees and plants into open grass areas along the creek, extending the width of the riparian zone. The project will require the purchase of native rainforest tree tube-stock in conjunction with the significant quantities our group propagates and grows in our two nurseries. The chosen sites will be prepared ready for planting and maintained for 3-4 years until a canopy has been established. Maintenance and weed control will be ongoing.
Harding Miller Education Foundation
ADVANCING GIRLS EDUCATION IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS
This project will support four high potential year nine girls in the Northern Rivers area currently experiencing disadvantage, to achieve their academic potential through covering the cost of their tutoring for one year as part of a multi-layered four-year scholarship. The project provides a laptop, mobile broadband, IT support, online homework help, personal tutoring, and a prepaid expenses card.
Jumbunna Community Preschool And Early Intervention Centre Inc
DEVELOP A BUSH TUCKER GARDENING PROGRAM TO SUPPORT CHILDREN
A bush tucker garden supports children to develop respect for the environment by engaging with nature in an outdoors environment. Children who spend time in nature are happier, healthier, stronger, smarter, kinder, and more social. The bush tucker program supports children affected by trauma to develop wellbeing and resilience under the guidance of adults and older peers and develop community relationships and partnerships.
Lennox Head Lions Club Inc
CLUB EQUIPMENT FOR ACCESSIBILITY, SAFETY AND SECURITY
The project will build safety and access areas for our aged/disabled members, provide a fit-out of shelving, security and lighting in the storage shed and a sunshade marquis for UV safety. This will additionally support team members organising BBQ’s.
Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation
CLARENCE VALLEY CLOSE THE GAP 2023
The ‘Clarence Valley Close the Gap’ event is a volunteer run and led event through Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation aiming to increase community awareness around the Close the Gap targets and provide direct community access to services in a one-day event. The event is run of volunteer fundraising and sponsorship seeking. This large-scale event provides social inclusion, cultural awareness, access to services, inclusive to all the community and is disabled friendly. Over 1000 attended in 2022.
Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers
WILDLIFE CARE AND RESCUE
The Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers is a volunteer-based organisation that continues to rescue and care for native wildlife in the Northern Rivers. The two main aspects of rescue and care include rescuing of wildlife from heights, and the provision to monitor the external temperatures for animals in care.
Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital Ltd
WILDLIFE AMBULANCE FIT-OUT
The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital purchased a vehicle in June 2022 using a Community Building Partnership grant. For the vehicle to be fit for purpose, it requires some signage and a fit-out which will involve custom built shelving, racking, and storage for cages and medical equipment. Fit-for purpose also includes appropriate signage on the vehicle.
Richmond Riverkeeper
RGIVING THE RIVERS OF THE RICHMOND RIVER CATCHMENT A COMMUNITY VOICE
The objective of this project is to develop a business strategy and website to support the start-up of the Richmond Riverkeeper with a focus on opportunities for catchment-wide environmental restoration, cultural protocols, water quality and monitoring, and knowledge sharing.
Zephyr Education Inc
NORTHERN RIVERS EDUCATION PROGRAM
The Project involves helping children in the Northern Rivers District whose lives and education have been disrupted by domestic and family violence, by supplying them with school uniforms, bags, stationery, and all other school essentials to give them the best chance of successfully restarting their education. We are already supplying school essentials to a DV support organisation operating in three towns in the district and know there are other DV shelters desperately needing similar support.