Not-for-profit groups in the Muswellbrook and Singleton shires can gain funding for their projects from Hunter Valley Operations’ (HVO) latest community grants round.
Environment and community officer Merri Bartlett said the program was one of the ways the local mining company sought to support the communities in which it operated.
“As well as providing jobs and an injection into the economy through businesses and suppliers, we think it is important to support initiatives that make our community a better place for people to live and work,” she explained.
“We also assist the Jerrys Plains Public School Jerrys Juniors and Ready4School pre-school programs.”
Grants are awarded twice a year.
And, eight projects shared almost $32,000 in funding from the first round in June.
Those recipients included the Eastern Branch ASHS Championships and Performance Weekend (Australian Stock Horse Society Eastern Branch), Singleton Business Awards (Business Singleton), Fun Factory (Early Links Inclusion Support Services), Jerrys Plains bicentennial celebrations (Friends of St James Church), Jerrys Plains bicentennial celebrations (Jerrys Plains Public School P and C), mental health first aid course (Jerrys Plains School of Arts Hall), TrioBike taxi for residents (Mercy Services) and replacement archery targets (Glen Gallic Shooting Club).
One of those grants also funded five Jerrys Plains’ residents to complete a two-day youth mental health first aid course for adults working or living with adolescents.
Delivered by Phillipa Baker from Ripple Effect Wellbeing, the module covered topics such as adolescent development, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis and suicide prevention.
Ms Bartlett said drought, flooding and COVID 19 impacts in the Upper Hunter had shone a spotlight on the importance of good mental health, including for young people.
“The feedback from residents who did the course was very positive,” she stated.
“They said they took away practical skills to apply to their relationships with their children and other young people.”
HVO has provided more than $330,000 in funding to 75 projects since its grants program began in 2018.
To make an application visit https://hvo.smartygrants.com.au.
For more information, phone Ms Bartlett at HVO on 0455 782 292 or email [email protected].
Applications close on 30 September.
