Announcing our 2024/25 Neighbourhood Grants recipients

A big congratulations to the ten local organisations whose vital community work will be supported with a Foundation SA Neighbourhood Grant.

Neighbourhood Grants provide up to $5,000 in funding for non-profit organisations that are strengthening community connection and neighbourhood bonds with projects that are led by locals. Though these grants might seem modest in size by some standards, we know that it doesn’t always take a lot of money to create big impact when funding community-led solutions. This year we received 48 applications and have awarded ten organisations grants.

The recipients of the 2024/25 Neighbourhood Grants are:

ABORIGINAL DRUG & ALCOHOL COUNCIL SA

Community Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Lunches

The Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council provides frontline alcohol and drug services across South Australia. This grant will fund six community SEWB lunches for the Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Council SA networks and clientele to come together with no real agenda (appointments, assessments, counselling) other than caring for each others Social and Emotional wellbeing.

SEWB is the connection to land, sea, culture, spirituality, family and community which are important to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders and how a person’s SEWB is influenced by policies and past events and how we can all come together to support self-determination and improve the social and emotional wellbeing, resilience and mental health of Aboriginal people, families and communities.

Learn more about Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Council SA here

SOLDIER ON

Veterans’ Coffee Sips in Adelaide – Weekly Social Connections Catchup

The Veterans’ Coffee Sips program is aimed at providing veterans and their families in the Mawson Lakes area with a regular opportunity to connect, socialise, and support each other.

Veterans often experience feelings of isolation after transitioning from military service to civilian life, and this project seeks to address that need by offering a welcoming, community-oriented environment where they can share experiences and build supportive networks.

Learn more about Soldier On here

MID MURRY SUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORK

Caring Connected Communities Editing and Publishing Project

The Mid Murray Suicide Prevention Network is one of SA’s locally run independent incorporated suicide prevention networks. Their mission is to reduce the stigma of mental ill health and raise awareness with activities designed to reduce the harms of suicide.

The Caring Connected Communities Editing and Publishing Project will provide the opportunity to develop a podcast and six printed publications to share the stories of ordinary folk, living extraordinary lives in the Mid Murray. The project aims to increase community conversation around important issues, and to directly introduce citizens to their neighbours through their own amazing stories.

Learn more about Mid Murray Suicide Prevention Network here

CHRISTIE DOWNS COMMUNITY HOUSE

Monthly Silent Disco events for youth aged 12 – 21

A recent a community needs analysis at Christie Downs Community House highlighted a gap in service in relation to neurodivergent youth and their lack of access to social activities which present the opportunity for social connection and engagement.

Silent Discos bring a social music experience to those sensitive to sensory overload. Sensory overload is a feeling of hypersensitivity to sights, sounds and other senses. It is especially intense for those on the Autism Spectrum and is often experienced by other forms of neurodivergence. Through this grant Christie Downs Community House will offer Silent Disco events for youth aged 12 -21.

Learn more about Christie Downs Community House here

ACTNOW THEATRE  

Young Theatre Makers Program

ActNow Theatre is an award-winning, community-driven theatre company with social justice at its heart. Over nine weeks, up to 15 young people, aged 13-17 and from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, will take part in free theatre making workshops led by professional artists who will also provide pastoral support.

The Young Theatre Makers Program will foster a fun, safe and engaging environment where young people have agency to express themselves creatively and tell stories they want to tell. This process develops their confidence, empowerment and self-esteem, while learning new skills in making theatre. Collaboration with their peers in this program will build a strong sense of community, belonging and wellbeing. There will be a public sharing of original work by the participants in the final week of the program.

Learn more about ActNow Theatre here

MID MURRAY OUR TOWN

Youth Hub

The Youth Hub will be open to young people across Swan Reach, Blanchetown, Walker Flat and Nildottie who have provided feedback that they have limited spaces and chances to connect with their peers due to social isolation in regional communities.

The Youth Hub will be developed in consultation with young people to design and plan what they want from their space. Feedback so far has informed they want art/craft activities, music, theatre creation, homework support, life building activities (such as cooking, budgeting, and support with learner driver training).

Learn more about Mid Murray Our Town here

PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE

Neonatal Community Connections

Parents Who Have Been There is a support group of Adelaide parents who had their babies go through Neonatal Care. This grant will fund regular Neonatal Parents Playgroup and extra Family Fun Days to support and connect them with a community of neonatal parents with the same lived experience.

Learn more about Parents Who Have Been There here

THE NURTURED VILLAGE HAMPERS

Village of Support Limestone Coast

The Nurtured Village Hampers is a volunteer-led and run national charity, that recognises a gap in the traditional ‘village of support’ in early parenthood.

This project will support 25 children and their mothers at monthly meet ups at a local indoor trampoline park and playground to provide mothers with face-to-face connection, sense of community and a safe space to be seen and heard, while children have the opportunity to be active and form connections with others.

By advocating for open conversations and reducing stigma, this initiative aims to create a culture of understanding and support for mothers facing mental health challenges. The project’s success will be measured by the strengthened fabric of the local community in the Limestone Coast.

Learn more about The Nurtured Village Hampers here

In addition to the above projects, two generous Foundation SA sub-fund holders have supported the following projects submitted through this grant round:

HANDS OF HOPE FOUNDATION

Trauma Recovery Programs

Hands of Hope Foundation provides wrap around supports to women who are survivors of family and domestic violence, enabling their transition into a life of empowerment, independence and hope.

The Trauma Recovery Program will allow 24 women, to be part of an 8 week program, designed to boost self-esteem and mental well-being, enhance awareness and understanding of domestic violence, improved relationship skills, promotion of community advocacy, and safety and empowerment of participants. An important component of the programs is peer support, which will encourage sharing of personal experiences and mutual support.

Learn more about the Hands of Hope Foundation here

CANCER PATIENTS FOUNDATION

Look Good Feel Better

Look Good Feel Better is a free national community service program, run by the Cancer Patients Foundation, offering cancer patients of all ages, genders, and cancer types the opportunity to learn practical strategies to manage the physical, psychological and social impacts of cancer treatment.

Look Good Feel Better provides face-to-face and virtual workshops for women, men and teens to help manage the appearance related side-effects of treatment covering skincare techniques, makeup tips to help correct/ conceal redness, demonstrations for drawing on eyebrows and advice on headwear/ wigs. They also offer a range of virtual wellness workshops covering topics such as healthy eating, meditation, exercise and yoga.

Learn more about Cancer Patients Foundation here

The Neighbourhood Grants program will run again in 2025 – subscribe to our mailing list and keep an eye on our social platforms for updates.