Three inspirational community groups delivering education and arts programs have shared more than $87,000 in grants from the Bank of Melbourne Neighbourhood Fund.

Bank of Melbourne Chief Executive Scott Tanner said the latest round of grants would help grass-roots organisations build a better future for their local communities.

“Bank of Melbourne is proud to support the dedicated Victorians making a difference in their communities every day. These grants will help boost numeracy and literacy skills for Indigenous children, improve employment prospects for African women and support arts-based programs for children recovering from trauma,” Mr Tanner said.

The Bank of Melbourne Neighbourhood Fund provides grants to organisations and projects that improve the lives of Victorians. Since launching in 2013, the Bank of Melbourne Neighbourhood Fund has distributed more than $565,000 to support smaller groups that attract little funding from government or from their own fundraising activity.

Successful projects in the latest round were:

1.     Aboriginal Literacy Foundation: $20,000

The Aboriginal Literacy Foundation transforms the lives of Indigenous children through literacy and numeracy education. Working in collaboration with local communities and partners, the Foundation supports Indigenous children to succeed in school and beyond. The grant will be used to build a homework and tutorial club for more than 100 Indigenous students aged between 10 and 18. http://www.aboriginalliteracyfoundation.org/

2.     River Nile Learning Centre: $17,100         

River Nile Learning Centre provides a supported learning environment for young African women to build their literacy and numeracy skills. The grant will go towards engaging a qualified childcare worker from the African refugee community to care for children in the Centre while their mothers study in an adjacent classroom. http://rnlc.org.au/

3.     The Art Cabriolet: $50,000 

The Art Cabriolet uses art expression for remedial outcomes in children dealing with accident trauma, long-term repetitive illness or end of life trauma, disability, or challenging family circumstances. The art programs are designed in conjunction with health carers, social workers, psychologists, teachers and parents. The grant will be used to run arts-based programs for terminally ill children in partnership with the Very Special Kids Hospice in Malvern. 
 

For further information about the Bank of Melbourne Neighbourhood Fund or to apply, visit www.bankofmelbourne.com.au/neighbourhoodfund.

 

Fleur Leyden, Head of Media & Communications, 0413 598 477

Anita Noller, Bank of Melbourne Neighbourhood Fund, 03 9274 4913

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