Six Local Organisations Awarded $100,000 for Environmental and Social Projects
By InGRAINED Foundation
Run by local independent brewery Stone & Wood
Support for Local Projects
In March, we launched our Northern Rivers Large Grants Program 2020, inviting local social and environmental not-for-profits with DGR status to apply for a grant between $10,000 and $30,000 and show how their projects contribute to ‘regeneration and social connection’ – this year’s theme.
With $100,000 in total funding, applications closed on 22 May after a six-week extension to allow applicants to navigate any disruptions caused by COVID-19, leaving the Ingrained Foundation blown away with the 55 applications submitted.
Now, the time has arrived for them to announce the recipients of the Northern Rivers Large Grants Program 2020, so please join us in a round of applause for the following organisations:
Rainforest 4 Foundation
Rainforest 4 Foundation will embark on a large-scale regeneration project across fire-impacted Huonbrook, Wanganui and Upper Wilsons Creek, where the organisation will engage residents, landowners, volunteers and the Aboriginal Madhima Gulgan bush regeneration team in mitigating the risk of future bushfire through weeding, planting and increasing biodiversity.
Byron Rangers volunteers assist Rainforest 4 members with a local planting.
Mullum District Neighbourhood Centre
The Mullum District Neighbourhood Centre will launch a nutritional food relief and food sustainability project for community members experiencing financial difficulty and/or social isolation, in which participants can connect and engage in food preparation together.
Tweed Landcare
Tweed Landcare will put their grant toward wildlife regeneration in the fire-affected area of Terragon in the Tweed Valley, which engages local residents and landowners in improving safety for local wildlife and installing waterers, nest boxes, hollows and sensor cameras for animal tracking.
Support for New Mums
Volunteer-led organisation Support for New Mums will use their grant to relaunch their volunteer home-visit program for new mothers without local support networks in the Tweed Shire, with the aim to reduce isolation and create connections for participants following childbirth.
Receiving the inGrained Foundation Grant means our project, which was developed in response to the growing awareness that women with new babies often feel very alone at a time when they most need to feel connected to and supported by others, can continue. Our network of volunteers can assist new mums to adjust to caring for their baby and provide a support system to help them cope and thrive with the changes that motherhood brings. – Deb Hunt, Support for New Mums
Zero Emissions Byron
Volunteer-run organisation Zero Emissions Byron will use their grant to part-fund their RePlant Byron Community Connection Project, which aims to drawdown carbon and reinvigorate local biodiversity around degraded pastureland. Located in nearby Bangalow, the site will be prepared for the planting of 3,500 locally grown native rainforest trees with Aboriginal firestick burning practices, locally produced biochar and the involvement of the community, local Aboriginal people and special-needs groups across two public planting days.
Autism Camp Australia
The total funding pool also included a $15,000 ‘Employee Funded Grant’ created by our crew, who substituted their monthly carton allowance with a cash donation to the inGrained Foundation to raise the money. Together we selected Autism Camp Australia as the sixth recipient, whose ‘Employee Funded Grant’ will enable them to purchase musical and play equipment that assists the development of young people living with autism.
We are super honoured to be the Stone and Wood’s staff choice. Ten out of ten guys for backing us! It's really something special when people get what you are trying to achieve and share that vision of hope and transformation for young people. There is work to do, but we're fired up and keen to get this post-COVID show on the road. – Rachel Rowe, CEO/Founder Autism Camp Australia
InGrained are absolutely thrilled with the results of this year’s Grants Program. They congratulate each of the successful applicants and look forward to seeing their projects come to life – and they also thank all the organisations who took the time to apply this year.
To learn more about InGrained’s annual Grants Program and this year’s recipients, sign up to their newsletter and follow @ingrainedfoundation for updates – they’ll be showcasing the stories and projects of each recipient throughout the next year.