Volunteer grants reach a new high
AFL (NSW/ACT) is pleased to announce that a total of 39 clubs across NSW have been awarded grants equating to just over $137,000 through the Australian Government’s Volunteer Grants Program 2010.
These grants are funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). This funding for AFL clubs is an increase of over 200 percent from the 2009 Volunteer Grants Program and is a fantastic result for community based clubs.
The grant program provides assistance to not-for-profit organisations, such as grassroots AFL clubs, to support their volunteer networks. Funding is provided to meet the costs of training and skill development in areas such as basic first-aid and leadership training.
Funding will also enable not-for-profit organisations to purchase practical equipment items such as computers, barbeques and first-aid kits to assist volunteers in their work whilst expense reimbursement is available to offset some of the out-of-pocket expenses incurred during volunteering activities.
Liverpool Junior Australian Football Club has been awarded over $3,000 worth of funding.
“This is fantastic news for our club. Since this committee took over, our desire was to make the Liverpool Eagles one of the premier junior clubs in our region,” Liverpool President Eddie Canales said.
“By receiving this grant we see it as a real vote of confidence in all our volunteers who have given so much of their time and effort to build the great morale and unity that exists in our club today. This a reward for them whom without there would be no Liverpool Eagles.”
There was a very strong response from community organisations around Australia for the $21 million Volunteer Grants 2010. More than 15,700 applications were received and over 6,000 organisations were successful in receiving funding to assist an estimated 254,000 volunteers across Australia.