Community groups and organisations will be able to apply for up to four years of funding under Yarra Ranges Council’s upcoming Partnership Grants program.
Applications will be open to organisations and groups delivering programs, services and festivals in the region, from Sunday 1 October.
Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Services (DRERS), which provides emergency relief and a drop-in centre in Belgrave, was one of the recipients of the 2015-’18 Partnership Grants funding.
DRERS Manager, Tania Bevan, said about 400 people drop in to DRERS annually to access services directly, but each interaction with a resident had a flow-on effect to others.
“When we help a family, who may then assist a neighbour, indirectly, we know it affects more people than just the presenting client as part of the community,” she said.
Ms Bevan said the funding allowed the organisation to employ a part-time manager to oversee programs and assistance.
“We help our community by providing a non-judgemental place for them to come and talk about what they need assistance with,” Ms Bevan said.
“The main forms of assistance are food, food vouchers, pharmacy vouchers and helping people with bills.
Ms Bevan said her advice to new grant applicants was to break down the project into ‘little steps’, while filling out the application and to be clear about the details.
Sessions and Drop-in Conversations will be held across the municipality over October and November:
* Monbulk Living and Learning Centre – 21 Main Road, Monbulk. Information Session: 12 October, 6pm-7.30pm. Drop-In: 19 October, 9am-1pm
* The Memo – 235 Maroondah Highway, Healesville. Information session: 19 October, 6pm-7.30pm. Drop-in: 24 October, 9am-1pm at Healesville Community Link, 110 River Street
* Upper Yarra Family Centre – 2444 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction. Information session: 26 October, 6pm-7.30pm. Drop-in: 2 November, 10am-2pm
*Montrose Town Centre – 935 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Montrose. Information Session: 9 November, 6pm-7.30pm. Drop-in: 14 November, 10am-2pm
