COVID-19 VIC: Non-Profits – Hobsons Bay City Council Recovery and Reconnection Grants

This program seeks to support the community to ‘make things happen’ as they learn about, work through and adapt to the impacts experienced in Hobsons Bay through COVID-19.

The objectives of the program are to:
- Promote health, wellbeing and reconnection.
- Build group/club recovery/resilience capacity and skill development to support recovery.
- Facilitate social inclusion and participation from diverse populations.
- Contribute to the development and strengthening of local communities.
- Develop responses from local clubs, community groups and organisations to continue, adapt, build resilience and engage through the COVID-19 environment.
- Assist groups/clubs and organisations to recover through the COVID-19 environment.
- Support event and festival opportunities for celebration, expression, active participation and/or visitor, tourism and economic benefits that help build the profile of the city.
- Support and enhance positive environmental outcomes.

Grants of up to $25,000 are available. Applicants requesting equipment can apply for a maximum amount of $3,000.

Other sources of funding and contributions are expected. This can include in-kind or volunteer time.

Applicants requesting above $10,000 must discuss their proposal or idea with a Council staff member.

A total funding pool of $500,000 is available

The closing dates are 16 December 2020, 27 January, 24 February, 24 March, 28 April, and 26 May 2021.

Eligible applicants include non-profit or not-for-profit, incorporated clubs, groups, organisations, community centres, neighbourhood houses, schools and other facilities.

Professional producers are eligible to apply for events and festivals, if the activity proposed provides demonstrated benefits to the city of Hobsons Bay, with significant community and cultural value and/or visitation and economic benefits.

Applicants can be based in Hobsons Bay or outside Hobsons Bay, however the application must be for resources and activities that take place in Hobsons Bay and must demonstrate local need and impact; if online, highly relevant to Hobsons Bay.

Eligible activities must focus on meeting needs that can’t be met by other grants programs (e.g. State government programs), and that are most appropriately supported by Council. As these are unprecedented times the scope is broad, and could include requests for needs such as:
- Digital tools, including online conferencing subscriptions, online learning, webinars, web design and redevelopment and training.
- Creative online program projects.
- Bridging isolation and building connections projects.
- Assistance to develop different ways of operating to meet emerging needs.
- Online connection programs.
- Events and festivals.
- Sporting ‘come and try’ days.
- Environmental and sustainability initiatives.
- Initiatives responding to specific needs within cultural groups, age groups or neighbourhoods.
- Leadership and volunteer development for new and emerging members training in online platforms.
- Guest speakers on topics relevant to the club or group (e.g. mental health, coping with COVID-19 restrictions and recovery).
- Resources to assist group hygiene and sanitizing.
- Club/group gatherings when restrictions allow to foster reconnection.
- Other emerging needs from the COVID-19 pandemic that meet the Recovery and Reconnection Grants guideline.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Delivery & capacity: How well the proposal and budget has been outlined and is it achievable? (30%)
- Value and benefit: Does the proposal provide value to the community? (40%)
- Purpose/priorities: How well does the proposal respond to the grants program purpose and support recovery? (30%)

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Organisations that have previously received a grant from Council and have not provided a satisfactory Acquittal Report.
- Organisations that derive income from gambling or promote gambling.
- Organisations currently funded by Council to undertake the same activity.
- Proposals which are deemed as core curriculum activities of educational institutions (schools and kindergartens) and are totally education focused.
- Proposals for ongoing salaries, capital works, maintenance, vehicles, trophies, fundraising (except for events and festivals), donations, sponsorship and administration costs.
- Proposals that would require ongoing financial support from Council.
- Proposals that have been or could be funded from other sources (e.g. fees, sponsorship, service agreements, etc.) or other levels of government.
- Equipment requests over $3,000.
- Equipment that is for an individual and is not stored located within Hobsons Bay.
- Capital requests.