ClubGRANTS help charities to keep up their commitment to those in need
Sixteen community organisations have received a share of $87,870 in funding from Cessnock Leagues Club’s 2023 ClubGRANTS Program.
The ClubGRANTS Category 1 program funds projects, services and programs that benefit the local community, such as welfare and social services, community development, health services and employment assistance.
The grant recipients were announced at a presentation at Cessnock Leagues Club on Thursday, 24th August. This year’s recipients included:
– PCYC Cessnock: $16,378 towards the U-Nites program, providing free access for young people aged 5-19 on Friday evenings, for all activities including rock climbing, indoor skate park, gymnastics, fitness space and more.
– Top Blokes Foundation: $4,267 towards a mentoring program that aims to improving the mental health of males aged 14-17 across Cessnock through workshops with qualified youth workers.
– Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service: $5,000 towards a Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service aeromedical mission in Cessnock.
– Prostate Survival Alliance Inc: $1,000 to help provide free information and counselling services to locals affected by prostate cancer.
– Spirit of Giving Fundraising Hub: $9,908 towards establishing the Spirit of Giving outreach centre in Cumberland Street, Cessnock.
– Newcastle Rugby League: $2,500 towards educating under-19s players on domestic violence and mental health through the Voice Against Violence and State of Mind campaigns.
– Hunter Prelude Pty Ltd: $5,000 for Supported Playgroups Kurri Kurri, to provide allied health professionals and teachers to add value to established playgroups to support children and families.
– We Care Connect: $2,100 for emergency care supplies for Cessnock families affected by family violence.
– The Rotary Club of Cessnock: $7,000 for Breakfast & Lunch by Rotary, which provides free breakfast and lunch one day a week to the homeless, needy and vulnerable in the Cessnock LGA.
– Sunnyfield Disability Services: $4,500 towards establishing an accessible sensory garden at Sunnyfield’s Community Services Hub in Cessnock.
– Lifeline Direct Ltd: $3,850 for Suicide Safer Cessnock and Hunter, providing training for Crisis Supporters to respond to the increasing demand for Lifeline services.
– Little Wings Ltd: $10,000 for its Children’s Hospital Flight Program, which provides flights to Cessnock Airport for children from rural, remote and regional NSW requiring treatment at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital.
– Royal Life Saving NSW: $3,000 for the Swim and Survive for Youth Who Miss Out program, which gives disadvantaged youth the chance to learn vital swimming and survival skills.
– Girl Guides Association NSW: $1,100 for youth mental health first aid training for Girl Guide leaders.
– Strive For Autism: $2,267 to upgrade technology to facilitate presentations for online meetings and to improve communication systems.
– Heart of the Nation: $10,000 to place three automated external defibrillators (AEDs) into community settings in Cessnock where they can be accessed by the public 24/7.
The Club was overwhelmed with applications for this year’s ClubGRANTS program, with 40 submissions totalling approximately $400,000 received.
Cessnock Leagues Club president Bruce Wilson OAM said the Club is proud to support the local community.
“It’s no doubt that most of us have experienced the challenging economic times we are living in with increases in the household budget in many forms,” Mr Wilson said.
“Having said this, many of our charities are also feeling the pinch as they struggle to keep up their commitment to those in need. It’s here that clubs like ours can help out.”
Cessnock Leagues Club also sponsors six local sporting clubs, offers in-kind sponsorship to several community groups and service clubs, and provides quarterly grants through its Category 2 programs including the Cessnock Rural Fire Service Fund, Cessnock Schools Education Fund and Sports & Community Groups Fund.
Across all of these Community Support programs, the club has provided $301,000 worth of sponsorship and donations over the 2022-23 funding year (which runs from September to August); while over the past 10 years, its community contributions come to $2,169,528.
Applications for the Cessnock Rural Fire Service Fund, Cessnock Schools Education Fund and Sports & Community Groups Fund will reopen for the new funding year on September 1, 2023, while the ClubGRANTS Category 1 program will open in April 2024.
To find out more, visit www.cessnockleagues.com.au/the-club/community-support.
