More than 30 community organisations have received a combined total of $550,000 to help provide critical services made urgent by COVID-19 to the city's most vulnerable citizens.
City of Newcastle established the Boost Our City targeted grants program after identifying that community groups would struggle to deliver services to the most disadvantaged people in the community.
"The intent of the funding package was to support existing service providers to cope with increased urgency and demand for support services including supported living, crisis support, welfare, community transport and meal services," City of Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
"Countless vulnerable people in our community rely on a helping hand from our local charitable organisations, so when they were under pressure, we were eager to provide a boost.
"The benefit of this funding is far-reaching and has meant that some of our most at risk locals, like young people and women, have received support in the face of increased hardship."
Path2Change CEO Jen O'Sullivan said the city's young people had been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
"Many of the young people we support have been extremely anxious and required extra support from staff to manage the changing landscape of our community living with COVID-19," she said.
"We have recorded an increase in young people requiring assistance during the pandemic. The financial support received by the City equates to more young people receiving the helping hand they need and deserve.
"We are also focused on ensuring their social wellbeing is supported as maintaining social connection has been difficult leading to increased feelings of isolation.
"The grant funding we have received from the City of Newcastle will support the 'Empower Me' Life Skills Program which focuses on helping young people build and enhance their strengths and capabilities, through the development of foundational life skills or improved outcomes to manage barriers they may be facing."
To deal with the community impact of COVID-19, City of Newcastle rolled out $150,000 through a Rapid Response Grant Program, followed by Boost Our City to strengthen the capacity of local service delivery.
Grant recipients include:
- Compass Housing
- Red Nose
- Newcastle Meals on Wheels
- Awabakal
- Path2Change Ltd
- Nova for Women and Children Inc
- Hunter Multicultural Communities inc
- Hunter Community Legal Centre Inc.
- Home-Start National Inc
- Gateway Care
- Victims of Crime Assistance League Hunter
- Muloobinba Aboriginal Corporation
- Hunter Region Working Women's Group Ltd
- Catholic Care
- Financial Counselling Hunter Valley Project Inc
- Justiz Community Limited
- Cancer Patients Foundation Ltd
- Acon Health Limited
- Hunter Homeless Connect Inc.
- Sparkhaus Studio
- The Trustee for the Salvation Army (NSW) Property Trust
- Zara's House Refugees and Partners Inc.
- Family Planning NSW
- Soul Cafe Life Church
- Lifeline Direct Limited
- Newcastle Multiple Birth Club Inc
- Got Your Back Sista
- Seventh Day Adventist Church North NSW Conference
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance
- Healthy Change Challenge Pty Ltd
- Diocese Maitland Newcastle Development Relief Agency
