Grants of up to $1,000
Earlier this year we released our ‘Community Wellbeing Grants of up to $1,000’ individuals (not organisations or businesses) directly impacted by the 2019/20 bushfires within the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Lithgow areas.
We had an overwhelming response, and were pleased with the diversity and creative approaches among the grant applications.
The grants are now closed and no new applications are being accepted. A list of all successful projects are available below. Please note that as these grants were given to individuals, it is the auspicing organisation that is listed next to the activity:
Blue Mountains
Belong Blue Mountains One day Culture and Connection Workshop for the Walanmarra Aboriginal Women’s Group. The group will share their creative skills and interests with women of all ages and backgrounds.
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre, 'Blackheath Community Picnics and Live Music': Two lunchtime community picnics at Blackheath in the park with live local musicians.
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre, 'Blackheath Faery Door Workshop': Two x three hour fairy door workshops for children and adults with bushfire recovery support available at each event.
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre, 'Blackheath Blossoming Mindfulness': Two x three hour Mindfulness workshops. The events include mindful guided meditative exercises and practices, accompanied by a light guided floral design activity and morning tea.
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre, 'Playing with Paint': A local artist will run two art workshops aimed at adults. Each workshop will include reading, a creative process, reflection and sharing of art works and skills learned.
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre, 'Hands in the Soil': Three workshops aimed for all ages to learn about the various elements of sustainable food production in and for their own community including composting, raising seedlings, seasonal planting, and more.
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre, 'REACH Program': A psycho-educational wellbeing group for individuals aged 18 & over with a diagnosis of depression or bipolar disorder. Delivered over 9 weeks by a qualified facilitator.
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre ,'Build and Supply Beehives': Existing members of the men’s shed with the appropriate skills will build and supply beehives to community farms and other community groups who have expressed interest. All materials will be sourced locally to support local businesses.
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre, 'Sugargliders and Microbats': A series of workshops for the local community of Mt Irvine to come together and discuss the placement and ongoing maintenance of microbat and sugarglider boxes.
Blackheath Kookaburra Kindergarten Inc., 'Picnic in the Park': A social event for the 2020 & 2021 Kookaburra Kindy families. The activity will encourage social connections between families that may feel isolated.
CatholicCare, 'Cheeky Monkeyz': An after school group multi sports activity for young kids.The program helps with gross motor skills, hand eye coordination, self-confidence and social and listening skills while having loads of fun.
CatholicCare, 'Mindfulness Workshops': Weekly one hour mindfulness sessions running over a period of five weeks conducted at the Blue Mountains Botanical Gardens. Tools including workbooks, course material and downloadable sessions will be available.
CatholicCare, 'Mindfulness Workshops - Mt Tomah': Mindfulness sessions including training plus practice provided by a qualified yoga instructor. Each session will go for 1 hour per week for 5 weeks at the Blue Mountains Botanical Garden.
Megalong Valley Community and Landowners Association, 'Wellbeing Classes': Community and Landowners Association Weekly health and wellbeing classes facilitated by local practitioners.
Megalong Valley Community and Landowners Association, 'The Megalong Makers day': a planned activity open for all local residents and landowners to come together. It will also provide an opportunity to showcase local talent, resources and services in the Valley to local residents and visitors to the area, as well as a way to connect with each other.
Mt Tomah Residents Association, 'BBQ, Social Event & Art Program': An artist will paint a mural every three months alongside a BBQ and social event.
Mt Victoria Community Association, 'Restoration of the Gardens': An event will be held to officially open the garden at Bell RFS station, which will include an unveiling of a plaque recognising the dedication of RFS volunteers. This will be followed by a luncheon for members, residents and invited guests.
Mt Wilson Progress Association, 'Stone Wall Building Workshop': A one day stone wall building workshop for members of the Mt Wilson community. This activity will build capacity while improving mental health and assisting with healing through bringing members of the community together.
Mt Wilson Progress Association, 'Stone Wall Building Workshop': A one day stone wall building workshop for members of the Mt Wilson community. This activity will build capacity while improving mental health and assisting with healing through bringing members of the community together.
Mt Wilson Progress Association, 'Come and Try Tai-Chi': Beginner Tai-Chi classes running for five weeks, facilitated by a local instructor. Open to those residing in Kurrajong through to Bell. Blue Mountains & Hawkesbury Mt Wilson Progress Association Beginner Yoga classes running for five weeks, facilitated by a local instructor. Open to those residing in Kurrajong through to Bell.
Mt Wilson Progress Association, 'Come and Try Pilates': Beginners Pilates classes running for five weeks, facilitated by a local instructor. Open to those residing in Kurrajong through to Bell.
Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury Community Outreach Services, 'Be Kind to Your Mind': Six weeks of one hour programs aimed at skills development for high schoolers to reduce stress, enhance wellbeing, and develop new coping strategies. Topics will include Mind Movement, Healthy Habits, Art Therapy and more.
Hawkesbury Community Outreach Services, 'High Tea for Mums and Children': High Tea for approx. 20 mums, including an information sharing session on child car seat restraints and child first aid. Child-minding will also be available to offer parents some reprieve and the opportunity to network.
Hawkesbury Remakery, 'Colo Heights Childcare for Crafts Group': Monthly childcare by qualified minders for a community craft group. This will offer parents respite and enable them to attend the crafts program, whilst providing their children with age appropriate activities in a safe environment.
Hawkesbury Remakery, 'Kurrajong East Dance Classes': Introducing new activities to the local playgroup including a zoo trip, sensory play and a magic show. The funds will also ensure all children are able to participate. Hawkesbury Hawkesbury Remakery One hour dance lessons each week for approximately 20 women in the community.
Hawkesbury Remakery, 'Craft and Connect': Enhancing the craft activities provided by the resident Makers. The activities will be hosted once a month over a five month period. Makers will provide crafts such as feltmaking, mosaic, chalk painting, and upholstery.
Hawkesbury Remakery, 'Colo Heights Movie Night': Three movie nights for kids, families, youth and adults to be held in Colo Heights. The events will be free and will include fairy floss and popcorn. There will also be local food vendors present with the option to purchase dinner if desired.
Hawkesbury Remakery, 'Colo Craft for Kids': Facilitated crafts group for children aged 2-5 years old running once a month. Each event will have a themed approach to extend their imaginations and experience.
Kurrajong Community Forum Inc., 'Kurrajong Sparkle': Bringing the community together to make decorations for the festive season out of recycled materials. The project will also include decorating community spaces and a community BBQ.
Kurrajong Heights Bowling and Recreation Club, 'Bowls and Babycinos': Social gatherings for both senior and junior members of the Bilpin district for coffee, cake and games. The activities will foster the development of a playgroup and social lawn bowls team to increase community social connectedness.
Kurrajong Heights Bowling and Recreation Club, 'Evening Life Drawing': Five evening life drawing classes for individuals aged 18 and over. Classes will be tailored to all levels of artistic ability. The aim is to teach basic skills in seeing and drawing through a series of practical exercises.
Lower Macdonald Rural Fire Brigade, 'Community BBQ': A bbq for the the local community to bring residents and members of the RFS together. The event will encourage connection and support, and will allow the opportunity to share their experiences.
Macdonald Valley Association, 'St Albans Group Outdoor Exercise Class': Weekly community exercise and conditioning classes facilitated by a qualified trainer, running over the course of 16 weeks. The activity will connect the community while improving mental and physical health.
Springwood Neighbourhood Centre, 'Raising Kin': Two fun social gatherings including ‘Christmas in July’ and a ‘Grandparents Day’. Participants will also enjoy a stroll through local apple orchards and lunch at a Bilpin restaurant. (One event to be held in Blackheath and the other to be held in Bilpin).
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre, 'Clean-Up Australia Day in Bilpin': Opportunity for the community to come together and catch-up to clean up roadsides, backstreets, and community gathering areas.
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre A family gathering day for families involved in the recovery of the Colo Heights Saw Mill. The event will strengthen family bonds, honour a shared heritage of culture and connect children to extended family.
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre, 'Community Family Coming Together': Participants will be hosted on a guided nature walk on two important riparian zone sites on the Macdonald River. The convener will share cultural and historical knowledge of the Valley and the technical guide demonstrate effective techniques of bush regeneration.
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre, 'Colo Heights Social Tennis': Weekly social tennis open to the community every Tuesday. A great opportunity for people to connect by standing around and talking to one another. This activity will also include semi regular BBQ’s to provide people with the chance to socialise and get to know each other better in the area.
Lithgow
Marathon Health, 'AllSorts Mixed Martial Arts Classes': Partnering with a Martial Arts Dojo to provide LGBTIQA+ youth with martial arts classes once a month for four months. Attendees will learn self-defence, defence strategies and empowerment.
NSW Rural Fire Service, 'Blue Mountains Group Support Brigade': A group of ladies across the Mountains will meet over a period of approx. six months to participate in group patch-working sessions. The sessions will be conducted in various areas including Blackheath, Clarence, Dargan, Mt Victoria and Woodford. Upon completion the patch-work item/s will be donated to impacted families. (Also in Blue Mountains).
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre, 'Community Catch Up': A small community get together providing an opportunity for those affected by the bushfires to connect at an informal social event.
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre, 'Recovery & Renewel Tree Workshop': In collaboration with Killibinbin Native Nursery, this actvitity is a hands on workshop for communities interested in planting native plants to their area. Participants will learn how to replant appropriate vegetation on their land.
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre, 'Community Consultation': A meeting of Clarence and Dargan communities to consult with all locals on what they would like to see built on a parcel of land that once held a building that was used by the community. The intent is to gather feedback to present to Lithgow City Council on an appropriate strategy that council would see viable. Funding will be used on catering.
