18 April 2008
Libraries, tutors, an after school fitness class and a community choir are among 60 projects which will become a reality after grants worth $223,000 were announced today.
This year’s Community Development Resourcing Grants were aimed to help build stronger public housing communities throughout NSW.
These grants fund one-off community projects such as community gardens, upgrades to common area facilities, training programs and the establishment of tenant groups.
Public housing is not simply about providing homes, it is also about developing a community. Our goal is also to encourage our residents and other groups to get involved and help build their community.
These projects, while costing only small amounts of money, contribute in a great way to the building solid neighbourhoods.
They strengthen ties between neighbours, service providers and local community groups.
Priority was given to projects that are innovative, teach new skills, bring residents together, and engage the community in planning and consultation.
The community projects include:
- $4,631 for WAYS Youth Services to assist young people living in the South Coogee housing estate community with out-of-school hours study and homework by facilitating access to tutors and the Bowen Library resources and services.
- $2,860 to the Central Sydney South Regional Tenant Resource Service for a 10-week after school fitness program to engage children between five and 12 years of age.
- $5,500 to North West Disability Services to provide a fortnightly home based library service to older, isolated public housing tenants.
- $5,343 to the Bathurst Information and Neighbourhood Centre to establish a small neighbourhood garden within the Forest Place apartment complex to bring residents together with a shared hobby.
- $5,500 for the Warrawong Residents Forum to establish a choir for socially disadvantaged members in our community.
In its application, the Warrawong Residents Forum acknowledged the successful outcomes for members of the Choir of Hard Knocks and they have been wished all the best in replicating this outstanding initiative.
These projects, and the 55 other successful applications, will make a big impact on the lives of many social housing residents and indeed on the community around them.
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