March 2021 Community Grants announced

Every year the Sisters of Charity Foundation provides grants of up to $15,000 to incredible community projects and programs that break down social isolation and alleviate the impact of poverty on individuals and families.

The March 2021 grant round saw 83 applications submitted; 25 were chosen to receive grants.

A snapshot of the projects

The Hotel Etico model is one we’re so impressed by. This social enterprise/accommodation venue provides vocational training and life coaching to people with intellectual disabilities. The hotel has been awarded a Community Grant for its Independence Program: three project-based learning opportunities for hospitality trainees.

Hospitality Trainees and staff at Hotel Etico. Photo credit: ProBono Australia

Men’s Table builds groups of up to 12 men who meet regularly to share a meal and chat. These ‘tables’ become a safe emotional space where men can listen, talk and share – improving members’ social isolation and mental health. We awarded a Community Grant to help them build more tables in the NSW South Coast region, to help men affected by Australia’s deadly bushfires.

The Footpath Library enriches the lives of those experiencing homelessness and disadvantage via the provision of free books. Our Community Grant will help them provide reading glasses to clients with poor eyesight, as well as source books by Indigenous authors. These cultural stories are one genre of books that the library is unable to source for free as Indigenous publishers tend to be NFPs themselves.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt, leaving many families in western Sydney without enough to eat. We awarded a Community Grant so CASA can purchase a van to collect fruit and vegetables from Foodbank; food donations from grocery stores; and deliver food hampers to the elderly, low-income earners, people suffering from ill health, and those with no transport.

A continued focus of our grants program is ensuring the next generation of Australians has the best possible start at life – that’s why we’re supporting We Care Connect. Its Begin Bright program supports disadvantaged babies and toddlers across the Central Coast and Hunter region with essential items like baby clothes, swaddles, nappies, bottles, formula, books and toys; plus larger expensive items like newborn car seats, bassinets, cots, change tables and safety gates.

We Care Connect provides essential items for babies and toddlers.

List of successful Community Grant recipients

• Agape Outreach Inc – ‘Client Services Managers’
• All Saints Catholic College Liverpool – ‘Love Impels Us’
• Bridge for Asylum Seekers Inc – ‘Asylum Seekers Project’
• C Care Inc – ‘One food secure day a week for 450 food insecure Melbourne residents’
• Community Action Services Australia (CASA) Inc – ‘Food on Wheels’
• Frankston Life Community Inc – ‘Street Peace: At-risk Youth Mentoring and Support Program’
• Hotham Mission – ‘WomEmpower’
• House to Grow Ltd – ‘Flight of The Butterflies: Life After Domestic Violence’
• Jesuit Refugee Service Australia – ‘Emergency Housing Assistance Fund for women at-risk and families in crisis’
• Lesmurdie Community Care – ‘COACH Community Mentoring Program’
• Life-Gate Inc – ‘Dare to Dream’
• Mary Immaculate Parish Primary School – ‘Family Assistance Program’
• Moving Forward DFV Case Management Services Inc – ‘Food vouchers for women and children escaping family violence’
• Olivia’s Place – ‘Supporting Gippsland families through pregnancy and early parenting’
• One Meal it Makes a Difference Inc – ‘Community Meals Service: Capacity Building Project’
• Project Etico Australia Ltd – ‘Hotel Etico Independence Program 2021’
• The Footpath Library Ltd – ‘Reading glasses and Indigenous books’
• The Kogarah Storehouse – ‘Emergency Food Program’
• The Men’s Table Ltd – ‘NSW South Coast Bushfire Table Builder’
• The Nappy Collective – ‘September Collective’
• The Reily Foundation – ‘Supporting mental health of families navigating the system’
• The Warrior Woman Foundation – ‘The Young Warrior Woman Program’
• Vedanta Centre of Sydney – ‘Food Security Program for the Needy’
• We Care Connect Ltd – ‘Begin Bright: baby to toddler support’
• You Matter Ltd – ‘Purchase of whitegoods and homewares for Havens’

Congratulations to all our grant recipients!

About the Community Grants Program

The Foundation was launched in 2000 with the Community Grants Program, which has to date distributed more than $9.4 million to 970+ community groups and charities.

Commencing with the July 2021 grant round (previously known as September) we are introducing a 2-stage EOI (Expression of Interest) application process. Learn more about why we made this change.