TEN south-west community organisations have received a share of $30,000 from United Way Glenelg to help fund health, education, and employment and skill initiatives.

 Grants were awarded through a competitive request for funding, a process that takes over four months to complete. Proposals were assessed by donors who sit on a Volunteer Allocations Panel.

The panel, comprising of people living in the Glenelg Shire was for the first time, represented by youth with two students Alice Pumpa and Rose Cook representing Heywood and District Secondary College. Anna Impey representing Portland Aluminium, Maree Stanford from Glenelg Shire Council, and Mallissa Sealy from Portland South Primary School rounded out the panel to 5 members.

Their role was to identify the most pressing community needs, reduce duplication of programs, and look to close gaps in services.

One of the major themes coming through this round is projects supporting greater social connection due to the increase in isolation, according to Nicole Carr, executive officer United Way Glenelg.

“Covid has left many with irregular to no interaction with family and friends and residents are craving opportunities to come together in a more structured format.” She said

Infrastructure projects, where the ongoing maintenance or improvement of buildings was secondary. Aging buildings and working with the Heritage Architect was identified in two projects and modification of existing assets is required to meet community expectations and government standards.

“Community halls are essential in rural areas, and often the life-blood of a community. children playgroups, exercise classes, art classes, meetings, cooking demonstrations and bingo are just some of the activities held in halls,” Ms Carr said.

“Face-to-face socialising is getting more and more important, especially with everything going online these days.”

“We need these places, where people can all feel they are part of their community.””

Other applications came from organisations who were simply not in a position to do any fundraising throughout last year and discovered they had a shortfall to cover essential costs, including insurance fees.

Funding for the projects is made possible through the Workplace Giving Program with individuals pledging to make a regular donation from their wage.

"The value of our community donating to United Way Glenelg means the money stays locally. Who knows when a family member, a friend, a colleague or a neighbour may need support? “

“Funding outcomes will bring about a recognisable and relevant impact on the quality of life and community spirit of the people living in the Glenelg Shire during what I think has been a very tough couple of years,” concluded Ms Carr.

The full list of funding recipients for 2022 are:

Nelson Tennis Club - tennis court maintenance, maintain the condition of the synthetic grass surface for social play by community members;

Portland RSL Memorial Bowling Club - Kyeema and schools support equipment for lawn bowls to provide the opportunity for teens and people with a disability to be active in a socially inclusive, low impact sport;

Portland Mens Shed Inc - shed extension to provide an outside undercover extension to the shed to enable additional activities to be undertaken by members;

Heywood Golf Club - purchase of material to complete stage 2 of golf cart paths that involves thee construction of 960 metres of cart paths to encourage older members of the community to be more active;

SWAMP – maintenance of building to provide structural support for a unique Indigenous art space;

Portland District Health - Singing Strong: A singing program to assist residents at Harbourside Lodge and others in the community with deteriorating voices and Parkinson’s pulmonary and breathing coordination issues.

Portland Masonic Lodge -disability toilet and upgrade of toilets to improve accessibility by installing a unisex disability toilet and upgrade existing toilets.

Portland Bay Ladies Probus - Fun Day out to offer older members of the community an opportunity to come together to socially connect.

Cycling without Age – to assist with insurance costs to ensure the program can continue in 2022.

Portland Secondary College - Learning Support Room to deliver a safe, nurturing, structured and predictable environment for students to re-engage with their learning. For more information on how you can donate to support vital programs for the community please contact Nicole Carr at United Way Glenelg on 0410 51 3305 or go to their website www.unitedwayglenelg.com.au