A local philanthropic organisation will provide grants to 33 local charities from across the Northern Rivers in 2020.
Ballina-based Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) works as a trust – with donations it receives invested and then the profits given away each year,
‘Our grants touch on issues such as people’s right to health, employment, higher education, happiness and creative expression, and the challenges of living in a regional community,’ the organisation says.
The 2020 grant recipients are located across the Northern Rivers.
The following organisations are among the beneficiaries:
Rehab organisation The Buttery will receive $7,200 for its Youth Connection: Early Intervention Program for At Risk Youth; 12-20 year-olds with substance misuse, behavioural and/or mental health issues.
Liberation Larder will employ a trained social/mental health care worker at a cost of $9,000. They will ‘work on the street and surrounds of the Byron Bay Community Centre [and the] Fletcher Street Kitchen where nourishing meals and fresh food is made available to the homeless people in need’.
Byron Youth Service will receive $5,613 to upgrade defunct sound and PA equipment at its Byron Youth Activity Centre (YAC).
Additionally, ‘two intensive workshops will support ten at-risk youth to develop skills in sound production, DJ mixing and event management. An additional 200 young people will access performances and events supported by the mobile sound resource’.
Byron Herb Nursery will spend $4,700 of grant money, ‘To construct a secure storage area for mowing and gardening equipment.
‘The Herb Nursery’s new gardening business employs local youth at disadvantage to provide garden maintenance services for people living with a disability in the Northern Rivers region. Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation.’
Bangalow Men’s Shed will receive $5,125 to build a nursery walkway/wheelchair access ramp.
‘This will facilitate the inclusion of a wide range of persons in activities important to many, especially those unable to participate in other shed activities. Supported by James Frizelle Charitable Foundation.
A grant to Zero Emissions of $5,500 will go towards a ‘planting day and free Regenerative Agriculture workshop at The Farm in Ewingsdale.
‘Zero Emissions Byron aims to reduce Byron Shire emissions to zero by 2025 to combat climate change. Drawing carbon into trees and the soil are key solutions’.
Bangalow Koalas will use $4,770 of grant money for a project to connect koala habitat and rainforest remnants in a wildlife corridor.
This will ‘enhance, protect and conserve habitat for EPBC Act and BC Act threatened species and ecological communities including vulnerable koalas and critically endangered Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia’.
Brunswick Valley Landcare will receive $10,000 for a regenerative agriculture project to connect high school students with farmers and Indigenous practitioners. ‘Drought resilience and soil and food health in farming and food production are now key social issues.’ Supported by Yulgilbar Foundation, this project will also receive matched funding from Stone & Wood.
Byron Youth Theatre will use $6,000 of grant money for an original theatre production called How on Earth? which will focuss on the ‘complex issues of eco-anxiety and ecological despair.
‘Byron Youth Theatre will consult with local and national ecological, health and wellbeing organisations to create an original production focusing on the complex issues of eco-anxiety and ecological despair. The production will be performed at local schools as well as providing a public forum’.
For more information visit www.nrcf.org.au.
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