Our 2022 SCCU Community Grants recipients have been awarded!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the program, and congratulations to our top 3.
Keep an eye on our socials to follow the projects over the next 12 months.
With over 200 visitors per week, the grant will replenish the Wardell flood recovery centre with fresh produce, build community resilience, and expand their holistic approach to disaster recovery by nurturing wellbeing through a therapeutic horticulture program. The funds will purchase equipment to start a series of home gardens, a community garden, facilitate workshops and build a gardening community.
Relatively new, WardellCORE has emerged from the February/March flood disaster to service the needs of Wardell and the surrounding districts. Their mission is to improve people’s lives beyond the point of disaster recovery and to support the community to create a shared vision for the future. WardellCORE continues to provide access to essential goods, food, clothing, bedding, internet access, toilet/shower/laundry facilities, links to services, mental health support and counselling, meals, volunteer management, advisory services, resources and active recovery support to the Wardell community and neighbouring districts. This project will see an ongoing food source generated for the flood recovery centre for years to come.
MSCC’s Young Driver Program takes P plate drivers and licensed high school students through an advanced driver training exercise. The program builds on the skills gained upon obtaining a NSW Driving licence through a series of in vehicle exercises, creates an awareness of maintaining a roadworthy vehicle and the basic mechanical skills required, provides a training environment which is healthy, challenging and respectful of other vehicle users, and encourages participants should they desire to further their skills on the track with tuition from the MSCC and MSA qualified drivers and instructors.
MSCC identified a need to upskill young drivers, especially at the learner and P plate level, with 21 lives lost in 2022 thus far, between the ages of 17-20 in NSW. The Young Driver Program, although in its infancy, has had real commitment shown from Murwillumbah businesses, the wider community, State and Federal governments and local secondary schools.
Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue (ASTR) is an incorporated charity licensed to rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured seabirds, shorebirds, and marine reptiles in NSW. ASTR has been operating an educational facility for over 25 years and have very little educational material. The grant will be used to upgrade educational displays, including installing a 10m x 3 m vinyl display and turtle and bird cams that will stream to a large TV in the education room.
In the past 12 months the group have rescued 653 animals across the organisation which included 120 marine turtles, with the majority of work being carried out by volunteers. These volunteers are trained and educated by ASTR through programs such as NSW Turtlewatch to assist management agencies to identify and protect marine turtle nests, and the ‘Don’t cut the line campaign’ to educate fisherman and the general public on what to do in situations with injured or ‘hooked’ sea birds. In addition, the team host school holiday education clinics for school aged children to help them learn young about the importance of protecting our wildlife.
Monday 19th September 2022: Grants Applications Open
Friday 28th October 2022, 5pm: Applications Close
Wednesday 2nd November 2022: Finalists Announced and Voting opens
Wednesday 16th November 2022, 5pm: Voting Closes
Wednesday 30th November 2022: Recipients Announced!
All applications will need to self allocate from the categories below
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.
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.
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.
While we welcome small businesses and community groups to consider applying, unfortunately the following are ineligible for support through this program:
If your organisation practices in any of the above activities, we will reject your application.
Additionally, the following Terms and Condition’s apply:
Southern Cross Credit Union Ltd ABN 82 087 650 682
For more information in relation to eligibility criteria
Contact UsThis year, we have a total of $30k in grants available to community groups and small businesses, giving you the chance to partner with us to bring your community project to life.
Meet one of our 2021 recipients, Cabarita Surf Life Saving Club
By working together we can achieve so much more!
BBWH launched Australia’s largest Mobile Wildlife Hospital, offering expert veterinary care to native animals wherever and whenever there is a crisis impacting wildlife. Applying for a SCCU Grant in partnership with Australian Seabird Rescue, the dynamic duo is working on a much-needed Sea Turtle Recovery Dry Docking System, bringing a world-class enclosure to our shores.
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 helped to introduce a hospitality employment path that provides professional training for project participants providing them with skills needed to return to the workforce.
The Emergent Leaders Foundation run a number of programs that provide the skills, resources and structures for individuals, families and communities to let go of old frameworks and find a path to live a consciously harmonic life. Receiving the SCCU Grant for their Impactful Youth Project saw 50% of costs covered, providing scholarships for up to 22 youths hoping to participate. The project itself is a four day camp for young men and women: based on indigenous cultures in a safe environment– to test themselves, in confidence, personal leadership, emotional literacy, and teamwork.
A non-profit organisation based in Byron Bay, Reforest Now grows and plants trees to combat climate change and restore ecosystems. Growing 23,000 native Australian trees each year, at the time of application the nursery had reached maximum capacity with three tunnels. They have since used our SCCU Community Grant to build a 4th misting house tunnel, increasing their capacity by 100% to help meet the growing demand for trees to be replanted in our region and they themselves, have kept on growing.
2020
Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital
Precious Plastics Northern Rivers
GCB Environmental
Emergent Leaders Foundation
Georgia and Gisela Conechado
Pottsville Beach Community Hall
2019
Reforest Now
Shedding Community Workshop
The S.H.I.F.T. Project
Years of age
Australian our NZ resident
Confirmed employment
If you'd like a little extra help, call our team on 1300 360 744.
