Communities across SA awarded Neighbourhood Grants to build community connection

Communities across South Australia will benefit from more than $46,000 distributed through the Foundation SA 2023 Neighbourhood Grants program.
Twelve individual grants have been awarded to support the delivery of programs offered to a range of communities including the LGBTQI community in Port Lincoln, released female prisoners, communities in Sedan and Andamooka and retired defence personnel.
 

“We were overwhelmed with the response to our 2023 Neighbourhood Grants applications,” says Sophie Doyle, Foundation SA’s Philanthropy and Engagement Manager.
 

Sixty-five applications for funding were received from a vast range of organisations supporting various types of communities and addressing a broad range of needs — a significant increase on the 11 received in the previous year.
 

“Not only did we receive a high volume of applications but they were of such an impressive calibre which made for a very competitive process,” says Sophie.
 

The strong response to the 2023 Neighbourhood Grants funding round demonstrates that there is a clear need for additional financial support for organisations delivering meaningful programs for communities across the state.
 

“The purpose of our Neighbourhood Grants is to support the delivery of programs and activities that are led by people from within the community they are serving,” says Sophie.
 

“They enable non-profit organisations to respond to local needs and communities together and create connection.”
 

The 2023 grants will support communities to build connection through a range of activities and programs including food, cycling, gardening, art making, music, social interactions, sharing lived experiences and much more.
 

The 2023 Foundation SA Neighbourhood Grants were made possible thanks to the generosity of Giving with Gratitude Fund, Better Tomorrow Fund, Lang Family Foundation and other supportive donors.
 

Sophie says the grants may be modest but they have proven transformational for the communities that benefit.
 

“Our donors value the opportunity to make an impact in these communities so I am pleased to have secured their support to again offer Neighbourhood Grants in 2024.”
 

The grant making process is also made possible thanks to six people who give their time and expertise to assessing funding applications.
 

“Our assessment panellists offer a diversity of experience and backgrounds including government, philanthropy, community development and non-profit,” says Sophie.
 

“It is invaluable to the grant making process to have people who can look at applications through different lenses and bring different approaches to the table.
 

“I extend my sincerest thanks to them for the part they play in making Foundation SA grants possible.”
 

The full list of 2023 Neighbourhood Grants recipients

Careworks Incorporated — Families of Hope
The Families of Hope project is a weekly drop-in initiative based in Davoren Park that aims to foster community connections and provide enriching activities for parents, children and caregivers of all ages, with a particular focus on supporting families facing disadvantage.
 

Defence Shed Port Adelaide — Bike Riding for All
The grant will support the Defence Shed to purchase electric bikes that can be used by members who are unable to ride a push bike. This will open up access to bike riding and the social and health benefits that come with it for many people.
 

Encounter Centre Inc — Community Mural
The mural project will see the community centre engage with its diverse community to create strong community connections through the mural design and painting, which itself will reflect the community.
 

Hills Community Toy Library Inc — Community Engagement
The Hills Community Toy Library services the Adelaide Hills region and beyond, providing loan toys to families of all backgrounds. Following a decline in participation following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Toy Library is seeking new ways to engage children and families and as such will run Messy Play Days (pictured right) for children aged 0–10 years and their carers.
 

Lefevre Unity Church Taperoo — Creating a community place for the lonely
This project will encourage socially isolated community members to visit the Church on an additional day by providing them with a voucher for barista made coffee and something to eat. Bringing people together will encourage conversation and enable people to enjoy a special treat.
 

ME/CFS South Australia Inc — Forever in Lockdown
Almost 250 people live with ME/CFS in metropolitan and regional South Australia and are among the most disabled and vulnerable, and severely at risk of social isolation. This project will support the creation of an online art gallery showcasing art created by community members and registered as a SALA event.
 

Open Space Contemporary Arts — Opal Evolution
Opal Evolution is a new community art and culture initiative in regional South Australia that aims to bring new vitality to the community of Andamooka through the creation of an annual multi-arts light, projection, street parade and music festival (pictured below).

Sedan Hall Inc — Sedan Stobie Pole Decoration (Stage One)
The stobie pole painting project aims to bring residents of all ages together with visiting artists to learn new skills and create symbols of community pride across the town by painting 48 stobie poles.
 

Seeds of Affinity: Pathways for Women — Feeding our Community
Seeds of Affinity provides a free healthy and nutritious lunch twice per week for women who have left prison and are transitioning back into the community, with 12–20 women attending each session and establishing networks and accessing support and counselling.
 

The Hut Community Centre — Sunset Sessions at the Station
Sunset Sessions will be held once per month on a Friday evening as an opportunity for people to connect through food and music in a relaxed, inclusive and safe outdoor space at the community centre. It will also be a low cost way to access entertainment and performance.
 

West Coast Youth and Community Support — A Pridevember to Remember
This fun and uplifting event will engage and welcome the LGBTQIA+ community in the Lower Eyre Peninsula to celebrate and enjoy all things rainbow, including food, music and lived experience guest speakers.
 

Woodville West Community Garden — Open Day at Woodville West Community Garden
An open day in February 2024 will welcome the Woodville West and surrounding community for a relaxed, family-friendly event with a focus on food security and sustainable living while raising the profile of and interest in the community garden.
 

More information about Neighbourhood Grants can be found here.