Brimbank Council is offering stage 2 Community Recovery Grants to continue assisting with new or the expansion of existing innovative community-led and community-based initiatives to support the community’s COVID-19 recovery and strengthen community resilience. There is evidence within their Brimbank community of deterioration in mental, social, and physical health, as well as economic hardship and financial stress.

Focus Areas

Council is particularly interested in grant applications that focus on one or more of the following areas:

• Building community connections. Activities and projects that aim to increase social connection and reduce social isolation, promote community participation and healthy relationships, and/or improve social and mental health of community members during the COVID-19 recovery.
• Initiatives to help community groups and organisations to continue to operate by adapting the way activities and programs are delivered through online forums or improving digital skills and access to online communication channels.
• Providing opportunities for people to continue volunteering in the community while maintaining physical distancing requirements.
• Activities that promote Brimbank’s culture and diversity, healthy lifestyles, community volunteering, intergenerational connections, sense of belonging.
• Learning development and employment pathways - activities that support community to access and share information, and support education and employment pathways. 

Funding Information

The Community Recovery Grants will consist of two categories:

• Brimbank Partner Organizations: eligible not-for-profit organizations delivering services or programs in Brimbank. Applicants in this category can apply for a grant up to $15,000.
• Eligible Community groups and organizations: Applicants in this category can apply for a grant up to $8,000.

Expected Outcomes

Projects or activities that:

• Encourage the active participation of all age groups
• Demonstrate active involvement in community volunteering
• Support social participation
• Promote community resilience - adapt and learn new ways of doing things
• Encourage and support communities to identify and address local issues
• Promote and celebrate Brimbank’s diverse communities
• Build healthy community relationships and enhance social, physical and mental health
• Create a sense of belonging and inclusion
• Enhance Brimbank’s reputation as a great place to live, work, visit and play
• Promote social connections and local pride among local neighbourhoods
• Promote local businesses and tourism.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for the Brimbank Community Recovery Grants, applicants must:

• Be a Not-for-profit Incorporated Organisation, or community organisation, or apply through an auspice arrangement
• Have Public Liability Insurance cover for the duration of the project
• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• Be able to demonstrate direct impact as a result of COVID-19
• Be based in Brimbank, or demonstrate that the proposed project will substantially benefit Brimbank residents
• Have satisfactorily acquitted previous grants funded under the Brimbank Council’s Community Grants Program. This excludes grant recipients who have extended their 2019/20 Brimbank Community Grants until 30 June 2021 due to COVID-19
• Submit a COVID Safe Activity or Project Planning Risk Assessment Plan that observes State Government COVID-19 regulations
• Speak with a Council Officer before applying for a grant.

For more information, visit Brimbank City Council.