Community Grants

Early August (Announced Soon!): Grants Applications Open

Wednesday 30^th September: Applications Close

Thursday 1^st October: Finalists Announced and Voting opens

Friday 30^th October: Voting Closes

Monday 9^th November: Recipients Announced!

All applications will need to self allocate from the categories below however we provide this to encourage ideas, and have an ”other’ categories because we understand not one size fits all.

Art and culture

Initiatives related to the celebration, preservation or ongoing impact of arts, cultural and heritage projects in the Northern Rivers and Tweed region. Example projects may include equipment, services and/or facilities such as community arts projects, restoration of items or areas with historical or cultural significance, performances.

Education

Initiatives that support imparting information or knowledge, skill sharing or improve delivery of teaching and education services. Example projects may include equipment, services and/or facilities such as teaching aides and resources, reading programs, creating access and opportunities to engage in education.

Sport and recreation

Initiatives providing sport and recreational benefit to the wider community. Example projects may include equipment, services and/or facilities such as shade for events, sporting equipment, uniforms, upgrading facilities, first aid equipment, tournaments, and training programs.

Environment and sustainability

Initiatives that focus on building awareness, preservation, engagement with and/or sustainability of the natural environment. Example projects may include equipment, services and/or facilities such as community gardens, sustainability education, restoration or care of ecosystems.

Health and well-being

Improving community access to health and well-being services. Example projects may include equipment, services and/or facilities for youth groups, mentoring programs, community health services, health education, training and development programs.

Tourism

Initiatives promoting our region as the place to holiday. Example projects include activity programs/attractions to bring tourists to the area and promote the Northern Rivers highlights, education on our region, and big name events.

Digital and Tech

Improving community access to digital and tech availability and quality in the Northern Rivers. Ideas to drive improvements, upgrades, change and aim in the betterment of our area using tech advances.

Hospitality and Retail

Initiatives enhancing community lifestyle and improvement in the hospitality and retail industries. Examples include ideas to introduce new and exciting business operations to our community.

Other

Any other ideas that do not fall into the above categories.

*We aim to make the application process simple and give every applicant an equal opportunity to produce a quality application. This includes questions to guide you through submission criteria, including category and whether you are applying under the ‘Take Bank Momentum’ or ‘Create a Better Future’ themes.  Within your application, you can also outline the amount you are applying for as the SCCU Grants Program provides between $1k and $20k to successful applicants, awarded amount limits stated are subject to change

While we welcome individuals, businesses, families and community groups to consider applying, unfortunately the following are ineligible for support through this program:

• Individual pursuits such as debt repayments, travel or ongoing medical treatment
• Events where another financial institution, bank or insurance competitor are a sponsor
• Programs that could be detrimental to public health or safety, discriminatory, or offensive to the community
• Projects of a political or religious nature
• Events that encourage smoking, substance abuse, irresponsible alcohol consumption or gambling
• Organisations and events outside the Northern Rivers Region

Additionally, the following Terms and Condition’s apply:

• During the application process, it’s expected you’ll be able to explain how the funding would be used should you be successful, and allow SCCU to follow and publish the progress of your Grant allocation for a minimum of 12 months. This may include requests to provide media content or imagery that SCCU can publish to share your progress.
• Completion of the application form is a critical part of our evaluation process which we use to measure your application against our selection criteria.
• We ask for an initial photograph to be submitted with each application, and upon providing, permission for SCCU to use in advertising is granted
• All applications will be reviewed after the closing date of 30 of September 2020, with all applications that meet the eligibility criteria considered. Finalists will be advised via email, along with details of the voting process to follow.
• The voting numbers received during the process form a part of the decision process to award Grants, but do not determine recipients alone.
• All eligible applicants will be advised via email within 2 business days of the outcome of their application after the successful recipients have been determined.
• If your application is successful, we will contact you to award funding and discuss ongoing engagement. If your application is unsuccessful we encourage you to reapply next year, as well as consider applying for our Referrer Rewards Program.
• All applicants must satisfy all relevant and applicable terms have been appropriately disclosed.

For more information in relation to eligibility criteria please contact us.

Reforest Now

A non-profit organisation based in Byron Bay, Reforest Now grows and plants trees to combat climate change and restore ecosystems. The Reforest Now nursery is located in the Mullumbimby Community Gardens, and grows 23,000 native Australian trees each year. The nursery is currently at maximum capacity with three tunnels, and Reforest Now will use our Community Grant to build a 4^th misting house tunnel, that will increase their capacity by 100% (an additional 23,000 trees per year) to help meet the growing demand for trees to be replanted in our region.

Shedding Community Workshop

Shedding Community Workshop aims to provide a unique, supportive and ‘hands-on’ workshop environment for members of the community to come together and develop sustainable skills in carpentry, building and everything in between. A popular community workshop pilot already, this Community Grant will be used to meet the growing demand for, and provide equitable access to, a range of up-skilling workshops, inclusively benefitting all members of our community – young and old, men and women, parents and families. Our $5,000 will provide an additional 20 free community workshops, every Friday for a 5 month period, where members of our community will learn life skills, that will help create a connected, resilient and sustainable community

The S.H.I.F.T. Project

The SHIFT Kitchen at Bangalow Heritage House is a community initiative that supports women experiencing homelessness and disadvantage in the Byron Shire. It aims to increase the health and wellbeing of women by increasing their knowledge and skills in healthy cooking, and increasing their employability. Our Community Grant will introduce a hospitality employment path that will provide professional training for project participants, including Food Safety Supervisor courses and Barista Training courses, along with the equipment to provide them skills to return to the workforce.