The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) has awarded $1,040,512 in grants to 101 grassroots organisations for projects that celebrate, strengthen and support their communities.
The funding is through FRRR’s flagship Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program, which allows not-for-profit organisations working in small remote, rural and regional communities to access grants up to $50,000 for a wide range of initiatives that empower their communities to be vibrant, resilient, sustainable places to live, work and invest.
These grants will support 81 ‘small and vital’ projects, like community events and festivals, training and workshops on topics such as online safety, local biodiversity and financial literacy, and additional resources to support volunteers.
Another 18 grants have been awarded in regions impacted by disasters, with projects addressing recovery and preparedness concerns such as food security, disaster refuges, crisis event coordination, community mental health and social wellbeing. Two ‘larger leverage’ grants will enable NFPs to provide digital solutions that strengthen their community’s disaster resilience and recovery.
“Rural people know that for a thriving future, they need to be able to access services and opportunities like education and employment, social engagement, organisational capacity-building and health services,” FRRR Head of Granting Jill Karena said. “We’re proud to support the people and places that are tackling these issues head-on.”
An increasingly concerning issue is food insecurity, according to Karena. Having secure access to food means different things to different people, and that’s evident in the kinds of initiatives they’ve been able to fund, from online workshops that build essential food security skills, to delivering meals to schools and young people experiencing hardship, and improving food storage and distribution infrastructure.
“One of FRRR’s current goals is to fund more initiatives that support and strengthen First Nations communities. So, it’s been great to see an increase in applications from Indigenous-led organisations for projects that offer spaces to educate and celebrate culture, health and social services, self-determination, social enterprise and economic independence,” Karena added. “We trust local people to know what the most pressing needs of their communities are, and what it will take to be socially and economically sustainable. We are proud to work with them to help their communities flourish and thrive.”
FRRR is also actively supporting disaster preparedness and recovery.
“Not only are remote, rural and regional communities more likely to experience a disaster, but the lack of accessible services, economic resources and risks of greater social isolation all mean that recovery is a long-term and ongoing journey. That’s why, in this latest round of SRC grants, we’re supporting communities that are recovering from the 2019-20 bushfires, 2022 floods, Ex Tropical Cyclone Ellie and flooding, Tropical Cyclone Jasper, as well as those places that are wanting to mitigate risk and prepare for future extreme weather events,” Karena said.
According to her, they also support groups with active projects in communities recently impacted by flooding across Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. To help ease the pressure, they’ve extended the project reporting deadlines, and they will continue to talk with and support the communities as the recovery process continues.
The SRC program is collaboratively supported by donors, ranging from private individuals to larger foundations, who are acknowledged on the FRRR website. This round also saw the first grants funded from the returns on the FRRR Small Grants Fund corpus, which was established in 2023. Those who would like to help FRRR fund more funding-ready projects can donate here.
Read also: TURSA marks 30th anniversary with $1M community grant program
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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