Council supports frontline help groups in COVID battle

Frontline services organisations on the Northern Beaches helping people hit hard by COVID 19 have been doing invaluable work for those in need.

However they, along with much of the local community, have been doing it tough over the past few months.

That’s why Council developed its emergency grant program to help these organisations under financial pressure to continue their important work.

Council has just approved the first round of funding under its COVID 19 Community Response grants program for applications submitted between 22 May and 5 June.

Council granted funding to 10 organisations worth $108,040. Funding for projects covers the fields of mental health, domestic violence, homelessness, social Isolation, disability support, food distribution/food banks and business recovery.

People from multicultural backgrounds, seniors, and cancer patients are just some of the groups of people supported by organisations receiving the grants.

The grant funding is awarded to eligible community organisations and charities to continue to deliver, expand and introduce new programs, initiatives and services to people affected by COVID 19 on the Northern Beaches.

One of the successful applicants was Community Northern Beaches (CNB), which sought emergency funds to expand their Homelessness Outreach Service, which has faced unprecedented demand due to the COVID 19.

Funding will increase Community Northern Beaches capacity to support homeless people and rough sleepers on the Northern Beaches as COVID 19 has led to an upswing in demand on their services in both numbers and complexity.

Under the program, individual grants of $5,000 to $15,000 are available to eligible community organisations and charities to address immediate needs within the Northern Beaches community arising from COVID 19.

The short term grant program is intended to fill the gap for community groups requiring support, alongside federal and state government initiatives.

Grants are awarded on an ongoing basis up until 1 December 2020 or until funds are fully allocated.

Applications will be reviewed and assessed on a regular basis and organisations will be notified as soon as possible on the outcome of their application.

A number of new applications have been submitted since the first round of assessments, and are currently under review.

Please go to Council’s website for more information or to apply.