The Hummocks/Barunga Ranges Brighter Futures Grant Program

Thursday the 21st of March 2019 saw the launch of the Hummocks/Barunga Ranges Brighter Futures Project, a trial project of the State Government’s Department of Human Services(DHS), in partnership with Uniting Country SA (which will administer the scheme), Barunga West Council, Port Pirie Regional Council, Wakefield Regional Council and Northern Areas Council, with delivery partners KPPM Strategy, the Legatus Group, PIRSA and Regional Development Australia Yorke & Mid North. The aim of The Hummocks/Barunga Ranges Brighter Futures is to help community groups to build skills for grants and community projects and to deliver projects of community benefit. The Project will provide community grants of up to $2,200 (including GST) for community groups for community projects to be completed, whilst participating in training and mentor support re project and grant management. Grants will be available within the Hummocks/Barunga Ranges area within each of the participating Councils and must be completed by February 2020. Townships included in the project area include Kulpara, Bute, Mundoora, Redhill, Koolunga, Yacka, Brinkworth, Snowtown and Lochiel. Brighter Futures project applications are available from the participating local Councils, with applications closing 5:00pm, Friday the 19th of April 2019. view full article for information for applications

The Hummocks/Barunga Ranges Brighter Futures Important Information for Applicants

 

The Hummocks/Barunga Ranges Brighter Futures is a grassroots community development and grants scheme specifically for The Hummocks/Barunga Ranges region and surrounding areas.  It is a trial project of the Department of Human Services, in partnership with Uniting Country SA (which will administer the scheme), District Council of Barunga West, Port Pirie Regional Council, Wakefield Regional Council and Northern Areas Council, KPPM Strategy, Legatus, PIRSA and Regional Development Australia Yorke & Mid North. 

The aim of The Hummocks/Barunga Ranges Brighter Futures is:

To help community groups to build skills for grants and community projects. To deliver projects of community benefit. Overview Grants of up to $2,200 (including GST) are available to community groups for community projects to be completed whilst participating in training and mentor support re project and grant management. At least one Grant will be available to eligible areas within each of the participating Council – note: not all areas within the four Councils are included, so please check the map to see if your district is eligible. Projects must be completed by February 2020 (ideally by November 2019). Project teams (community groups) must attend training in project and grant management Depending on numbers, the Brighter Futures training and mentoring may also be available to project groups that are planning to undertake their community projects regardless of their success in this Grants program. This includes projects that may fall outside the trial region.

In summary, Brighter Futures provides a small grant, but the main focus is building your skills to apply for grants and manage projects.

Geographical region covered by this Grant

The trial region is the area enclosed by Bute, Mundoora, Redhill, Yacka, Brinkworth and Kulpara (and including Koolunga, Snowtown, Lochiel - see map).  We chose this region because:

of the interest and support by the four Councils it is mainly small towns and farming areas and we want to help smaller communities it’s not far to drive to a central location (Snowtown) Training and mentoring

Important!  Project groups will receive training and mentoring on how to manage a community project.  Participation in this training is an essential requirement of this funding. All project team members are expected to attend every training session. Project groups that do not meet this requirement may not receive their Grant funds.

The training will delivered by Dr Kristine Peters from KPPM Strategy in Snowtown.  It includes three full day workshops (10am to 4pm), or possibly a mix of full days and evening sessions. The first workshop is Sunday 14th July 2019 from 10am to 4pm.  The remaining sessions will be spaced 4 – 6 weeks apart and the days and times will be agreed at the first training session. As well as the training, project teams will do a final presentation to the Project Partners in February 2020.

Dr Peters will also provide mentoring to project groups to help with project implementation.

Some of the project planning will take place at the training, but project teams will need to set aside their own time to work on their projects, so make sure consider this when forming your group.

Eligible activities

The range of projects that might be covered by The Hummocks Brighter Futures is broad.  They could include:

Activities or events that connect people.  It could be about connecting different towns (e.g. a shared event), or connecting a community to the wider world (e.g. an online competition or social media site). 

It could also be about connecting people within your community who wouldn’t normally get together, e.g. children, seniors, indigenous people, farmers, youth, new arrivals, sporting and service clubs, socially isolated people, people experiencing mental health issues, young mothers.

Activities or events that support increased participation in community life.  Examples could include opening a drop-in centre, sporting clubs holding Come and Try for children, installing a public mural, refurbishing parts of a community hall. Activities or events that attract visitors, new ideas, arts, culture. For example, bringing a famous guest speaker to the region, holding a community festival, holding a skateboard competition, holding a battle of the bands, establishing a walking trail of historic buildings and locations. Activities that support increased participation in work, such as a volunteering program, or an ‘op shop’ day to help people get clothes ready for new jobs. Other activities or events that demonstrate community benefit.

Grants are not intended to fund existing activities, but may be used to build upon them.

Eligibility Project teams of two to six people (more team members may be considered, however experience has shown that larger teams are more difficult to manage and it’s harder to get everyone to every training session) The project is in the eligible region The project demonstrates community benefit (see Eligible activities) The project has the endorsement of an incorporated community club/association or not-for-profit organisation that operates in the eligible region Project team members are covered by the insurance of the endorsing organisation For project teams with members under the age of 18, Child Safety requirements are met (see Child Safety heading) All team members commit to attending every training session Permissions and approvals (where required) will be provided by Council, property owners or others – we may ask for evidence of this There is no fixed lower or upper limit to the total budget for your project. You can apply for less than the $2,200 (inc GST) amount, or you can tailor your project to the maximum grant ($2,200) or your project can be much bigger, and the Brighter Futures funds are part of that budget – provided that the Brighter Futures part of the project is completed by early February 2020. Your project is completed, and all Brighter Futures funds spent, by early February 2020. You agree to provide a final report and presentation to Project Partners. Endorsing Club or Organisation

The minimum commitment of an endorsing club/association or not-for profit organisation is a letter of support confirming:

in-principle support for the project, a commitment that the activities of the sponsored participants, and the sponsored participants themselves will be covered by the endorsing organisation’s insurance. 

A Letter of Support and an insurance Certificate of Currency must be provided by the endorsing club or organisation with your application. 

Management of Grant funds

Grants will not be provided directly to successful applicants. Grant funds will be held by Uniting Communities SA and paid directly to suppliers using Purchase Orders. You do not have to use all your grant funds. Grant funds not spent at the end of your project will no longer be available.

Reporting back

Successful Grant recipients will need to report back to the Project Partners at the end of the program (February 2020).  Support will be provided throughout the training and mentoring to help project groups plan and manage this. A written report and a verbal presentation will be required, these will include:

A financial acquittal of the Grant funds. A written report with various information regarding the project, such as the number of volunteer hours, number of attendees at public events. Contribution of a short presentation (5-7 minutes) in a public ‘Reporting Back’ forum likely to be in February 2020. A brief video or photo montage (approximately 2 minutes, using mobile phone camera) representing ‘Our Journey’.

 

Child Safety Team members who are under the age of 18 require parental/caregiver permission to participate. Each project team with members under the age of 18 will need at least one adult team member. If you have one or more team members under the age of 18, you will need DHS Working with Children Clearances. Grants will not be awarded without at least one team member holding a current DHS Working with Children Clearance before the training starts, and all other adults in the team must have applied for a clearance via Uniting Country SA before the training starts. Because it can take a while to get these clearances, we recommend that at least one team member already holds a current Clearance before your group applies for this Grant (start now). Assessment

Your application will be assessed on:

How the project benefits the community (50%): please refer to the Eligible activities heading, and make sure you tell us how your project will make a difference Number of participants in the project group (25%): the ideal number is 4-6 people, we want as many people as possible to learn new skills Degree of community contribution to the project (e.g. fundraising, donations, volunteer support) (25%):We consider both cash and in-kind contributions

 

Access to the training for other project groups

Depending on numbers, the Brighter Futures training and mentoring may also be available to project groups that are planning to undertake their community projects regardless of their success in this Grants program. This includes projects that may fall outside the trial region.

To take advantage of this opportunity, project groups must apply using the normal application process, and indicate their willingness to continue with their project while accessing only the training and mentoring support.

Other eligibility requirements (i.e. except for the location), including attendance at all sessions, will be the same as for project groups that received a Grant, and these groups also need to provide evidence of appropriate insurance.

Applications

Applications need to be completed using the official application form.

Applications close 5.00pm Friday 19 April 2019.

The Hummocks Brighter Futures Grant Application Form(194 kb)

 

For more information and to submit applications, contact can be made to the applicable local council:

 

Barunga West Council

Andrew   Cole

Chief   Executive Officer

[email protected]

08 8635   2107

 

Northern Areas Council

James Lang

Manager   Community Development

[email protected]

(08) 8664   1139

 

Port Pirie Regional Council

James   Holyman

Director   Corporate & Community

[email protected]

(08)   8633 9713

 

Wakefield Regional Council

Holly   Hannaford

Community   Development Officer

[email protected]

(08)   8862 0800

 

 

Eligible Region