A grand total of $834,000 has been granted to 11 regional charities and community groups by Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation. These funds go towards projects improving health and social wellbeing for those most in need, and initiatives supporting disadvantaged and at-risk young people.
Eight of the 11 projects will support the Hunter, with over $540,000 of funding granted to groups working locally.
Jennifer Leslie, Chair of Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, said the not-for-profit groups receiving grants will deliver a broad range of projects that will improve the lives of disadvantaged, isolated and marginalised people across regional NSW.
“These grants will directly support thousands of people from the Central Coast to the Central West and Northern Rivers, across projects that range from the day-to-day practicality of providing meals through to cutting-edge medical programs,” said Jennifer.
“Just as important is the help today’s funded projects will provide directly and indirectly to families, friends and community members, with some 15,000 people anticipated to feel the positive effects of these grants,” she said.
The projects which will benefit local communities from this funding round are:
- The Shepherd Centre – TSC Hunter – $110,000
- OzHarvest – Central Coast & Lake Macquarie Food Rescue Expansion – $90,000
- Autism Camp Australia – Helping Hands Project – $87,000
- Happy Paws Happy Hearts Foundation – ‘Explore’ Youth Employment – $75,000
- Rainbow Club – Bringing Rainbow Clubs to Northern NSW – $60,000
- Feel the Magic – Grad Camp – $55,000
- Toy Libraries Australia – Toy Library Newcastle Refurbishment – $40,000
- We Help Ourselves – Day Program Fitout – $27,000
“From Happy Paws Hearts Foundation helping vulnerable young people build confidence by learning to care for shelter animals, through to OzHarvest supporting more than 6,000 local people with quality surplus food, to Toy Libraries of Australia’s purpose built upgrade, we’re honoured to support each of these incredible projects to deliver positive change for those that need it most,” said Jennifer.
“Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to take a trip through regional and rural NSW to see first-hand the amazing work some of our partner organisations are doing each and every day.
“It was a truly humbling and inspiring experience and served as a reminder of why the work of the Charitable Foundation is so important in ensuring people in need in our communities receive the support, opportunities and respect they deserve,” Jennifer said.
Zoe Black, CEO of Happy Paws Happy Hearts Foundation, said they will now be able to expand their training to support the region’s socially isolated with a new mobile training classroom.
“The mobile classroom will be key in reaching people in isolated areas. With the help of the grant, we will be able to support socially isolated people to find successful pathways to their next stages in life,” Zoe said.
“Our charity started with an idea, and to know that we will now grow the impact for both people and animals is truly moving.”
The Charitable Foundation has two rounds of funding each year and has provided more than $24 million in grants to over 530 projects since the first grant was provided in 2003.
All funding recipients will commence their projects this calendar year and all are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.
IMAGE | Ashley Gordon NPCF, Jane Gray NPCF, Nina Waterton Happy Paws, Zoe Black Happy Paws, Jennifer Leslie NPCF, Happy Paws
