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Volunteer Grants Available A grant program to attract new volunteers from diverse backgrounds, create new volunteering opportunities and strengthen existing volunteering programs is currently for applications, By Russell Northe - 19th April 2011 - Back to News said Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe.
Community not-for-profit organisations that involve volunteers at a local level are eligible for a $5000 Victorian Volunteer Small Grants program, through the Department of Planning and Community Development.
Mr Northe said the grants are available for Victorian organisations to:
• attract new volunteers from diverse backgrounds, e.g. Indigenous people, newly arrived migrants, people with disabilities;
• create new volunteering opportunities; and
• strengthen existing volunteering programs as a way of engaging new volunteers.
"Supporting Victoria’s volunteers is a key initiative of A Fairer Victoria, the State
Government’s action plan to reduce disadvantage and create opportunities for all Victorians," said Mr Northe.
"A diverse and inclusive volunteer culture is a common feature of strong communities, and strong communities offer better social, economic and environmental outcomes for everyone.
"These grants support the important contribution our volunteers make to maintaining active and welcoming communities."
Some examples of the activities or projects which could be funded include:
• a mentoring and awareness-raising program to involve people with disabilities as new volunteers in community organisations;
• a recruitment plan and advertising campaign, designed in partnership with an Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, to involve newly arrived migrants in rural communities in volunteering;
• recruiting and training local Indigenous volunteers to develop an Indigenous history program for local school children; or
• developing accessible signage, website and training resources to increase the participation of people with disabilities as volunteers.
Priority will be given to groups with relatively small operating budgets which rely on volunteers. For guidelines and information on the application process visit www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au or call the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356 (cost of a local call) on any weekday between 8.30am and 10.00pm (except Public Holidays).
Media contact: Russell Northe 0408 22 55 23 / 5133 9088
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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