Eight grassroots charities have received close to $230,000 from Bank of Melbourne Neighbourhood Fund. In the biggest funding round since the Fund’s 2013 launch, the grants will help the communities of Ballarat, Beechworth, Brimbank, Dandenong, Geelong, Greensborough, Keysborough and Maribyrnong.

Bank of Melbourne Chief Executive Scott Tanner said the grants would help improve the lives of more than 10,000 Victorians in need, creating a brighter future for young people, families and communities. “Bank of Melbourne is proud to support local communities all over Victoria.

These local charities are lending a helping hand to those who need it most. Each of them addresses a unique need, but they all have in common a desire to help the most vulnerable people in our communities.

They’re helping Victorians get back to work, feed their families or provide for their children,” Mr Tanner said. Since its launch in 2013, the Neighbourhood Fund has donated more than $1.2 million to small charities that attract little government funding or significant fundraising income of their own. The Fund is proud to support
these projects in the latest round of grants:

1. Beechworth Men’s Shed – Beechworth, Wooragee and Stanley: $2,550
Adopting the philosophy that every man needs a shed, Beechworth Men’s Shed encourages physical and
mental activity to improve health and wellbeing. The grant will be used to purchase disability aids to make the
facilities accessible to everyone in the community.

2. Boots For All – Greensborough, Eltham, Diamond Valley: $50,000
By collecting and distributing new and used sports equipment, Boots For All breaks down barriers to sports participation and strengthens communities, promoting social inclusion among disengaged youth. The grant will be used for a 12-month program to improve the skills and employment prospects of vulnerable teens. bootsforall.org.au

3. Edmund Rice Camps – Victoria-wide: $10,420 
Edmund Rice Camps provide recreational camping for children, youth and families facing hardship. Its programs provide early intervention support for at-risk children and families, with many children referred from social services agencies. The grant will be used to purchase or maintain equipment at the camps. ercvic.com

4. Enable Social Enterprises – Hume, Moreland, Maribyrnong and Darebin: $14,500
Enable provides robust work and learning opportunities to help break unemployment cycles for disadvantaged jobseekers. This grant will be used to roll out five courses to the most disadvantaged communities across Melbourne’s north. enableaustralia.org.au

5. Skyline Education Foundation Australia – Dandenong, Keysborough, Springvale: $37,952
Skyline provides intensive support to talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds for the last two years of their secondary education. The grant will be used to provide eight Year 11 Skyline Bursaries in 2017, covering textbooks, uniforms, workshops and a camp. skylinefoundation.org.au.

6. St Kilda Mums – St Kilda, Geelong and Ballarat: $41,042
St Kilda Mums helps Victoria’s most vulnerable families. It supplies reconditioned cots, prams and car restraints so that no child goes without the most basic material needs. The grant will go towards employing a Business Development Manager to cultivate new and existing partnerships with the corporate sector. stkildamums.org

7. Les Twentyman Foundation – Brimbank: $22,500
The Les Twentyman Foundation reconnects young people with their families and communities to help them reach their full potential and make a positive contribution to society. The grant will be used for 20 participants to access one-on-one tuition and a weekly homework club. ltfoundation.com.au

8. Willing Older Workers W.O.W! – Greater Melbourne: $50,000
W.O.W! offers emotional and practical support to people aged 50 and over who are unemployed or underemployed, helping to preserve their dignity while they look for work. With the grant, W.O.W! will buy a food collection van to extend their ‘Wheels of Hope’ food program, providing sustenance and hope to mature-aged individuals.
 

The Neighbourhood Fund is able to provide these grants because of the remarkable generosity of Bank of Melbourne’s customers, suppliers and partners. At its recent fundraising gala dinner, 700 guests joined forces to raise more than $800,000 for Victorian charities. Bank of Melbourne is humbled by their contribution and warmly thanks everyone who attended, with particular mention of its major dinner sponsors: Mazda Australia, MediaCom, Saatchi & Saatchi, Allianz, Arts Centre Melbourne, Australia Post, DWS, IVEO, Kemp Strang, Swann Insurance and Willett Marketing.

For more information about Bank of Melbourne Neighbourhood Fund or to apply for grants of up to $50,000 in the next funding round from 15 August 2016, visit bankofmelbourne.com.au/neighbourhoodfund. 

Media enquiries
Helen Aynbund, Head of Corporate Affairs, 0402 227 881, aynbundh@bankofmelbourne.com.au