The Forrest MTB and Cycling Club Inc, and Otway Health & Community Services in the Colac Otway Shire have both received a Brumby Government funding boost to encourage people to volunteer.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP announced today that The Forrest MTB and Cycling Club Inc had received a $2,500 grant, and Otway Health & Community Services received a $2,050 grant from the latest round of Victorian Volunteer Small Grants.
The Forrest MTB and Cycling Club Inc had received the grant for its ‘Forrest MTB Club Procedure Development project to purchase a suitable laptop computer and licenced software to use as timing for events.
“The grant will also be used for development and suitable training, for example Level 11 First Aid, of club members and non-members, (parents of junior members etc) as volunteers to be able to organise and run events/ rides,” Ms Tierney said.
Otway Health & Community Services received the grant for its Marrar Woorn Mural project which involves a group of indigenous artists designing a mural for the exterior of Marrar Woorn Neighbourhood House.
“Under their guidance through a series of workshops, this mural will then be completed by various community groups and individuals,” Ms Tierney said.
These are just two of 26 projects to benefit from the latest round of Victorian Volunteer Small Grants to help organisations recruit and train volunteers.
Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor said the Victorian Volunteer Small Grants program was part of a $21 million package of support for volunteering and community enterprises.
“As part of the package the Brumby Government will invest a further $3 million over the next three years to help people get involved and increase support for volunteers,” Mr Batchelor said.
“The lives of people in communities across Victoria are touched each day by the efforts of volunteers who give their time to help others.
“From driving a car pool to coaching a kid’s footy team or teaching older people to use the internet, volunteers of all kinds play an important role in building stronger communities.”
Mr Batchelor said volunteering not only helped the community, but research showed that people who volunteered reaped rewards such as improved health and wellbeing, and better employment opportunities.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that many of our most important local organisations, events and services would simply cease to function if volunteers stopped giving their time,” Mr Batchelor said.
Since 2004, more than 1200 organisations have been funded through the Victorian Volunteer Small Grants, with a total of more than $4 million across Victoria to support and attract volunteers.
Applications for the Victorian Volunteer Small Grants are open. For more information, visit www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au