Building community capacity with grant writing workshops

Posted November 20, 2019

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie is hosting a series of grant writing workshops across the region in January 2020.

The workshops will feature guest presenters from different sectors including community services, sports and recreation and veterans' affairs.

“These events are about building the grant writing capacity in our community so we can source the funds we need for projects,” Rebekha said.

Rebekha will also share her experiences applying for grants and writing tenders.

“The first two grant workshops I hosted in 2017 were attended by more than 200 people keen to learn the ‘art’ of successful grant writing and I was delighted by the turnout,” Rebekha said.

“Since then I’ve had numerous people ask when we were going to host the sessions again and with elections now behind us I am hosting workshops on the South Coast, the Adelaide Hills and the Fleurieu.

“I know from my past career and my own volunteering just as much work and passion can go into writing an application for $5000 as putting together a multi-million dollar tender.

“And if you’re successful, the acquittal of the funds can be just as time consuming.

“It can be challenging for our community groups to successfully bid for funding. However, that doesn’t mean we do not have needs or issues within our communities so being able to clearly articulate some of the challenges we experience is extremely important when competing for limited grant funds.”

The grant writing workshops are being held at the:

• Port Elliot Bowling ClubTuesday, 28 January 2020, 1pm to 3pm
• Stirling RSLWednesday, 29 Thursday 2020, 1pm to 3pm
• McLaren Vale RSLThursday, 30 January 2020, 1pm to 3pm.

“More than six million Australians over the age of 18 regularly volunteer in our community every year and according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, Mayo has one of the highest volunteering rates in the State and the nation at 31 per cent of the population,” Rebekha said.

“Australia-wide the social return from volunteering is worth $290 billion to our economy - $4.9 billion in South Australia alone - which is equivalent to about 107,400 full-time jobs across the state.

“Without this personal investment so much of what it means to experience ‘community’ in Australia would be lost which is why I feel so strongly about supporting volunteers and building the capacity of our community groups.”