Community Sponsorships awarded
Published on 01 September 2022
Over $230,000 has been awarded in community sponsorship by the Rural City of Wangaratta to fifteen community groups and local organisations to enhance the social, cultural and environmental fabric of the municipality.
The Community Sponsorship Program aims to support long-term relationships in our community, a priority listed in the Council Plan 2021-2025.
Rural City of Wangaratta Mayor Cr Dean Rees said supporting these partnerships isa key part of delivering on strategic objectives for the Rural City of Wangaratta.
“The Community Sponsorship Program is a positive way of Council directly supporting the great work of groups and organisations in our community,” Cr Rees said
“This is the first year of the formal sponsorship program and we have allocated $80,000 to community groups in this year alone.
“The range and depth of organisations who have been awarded funding over the next three years demonstrate the strength of our community – and Council really wants to get behind these organisations and support them.”
“From events like Carols by Candlelight, to the Wangaratta Agricultural Show, to ongoing support for the three neighbourhood houses in the Rural City, there are some great projects underway that all help to strengthen our community.”
LINE Wangaratta are a recipient of community sponsorship from the Council.
President of LINE Wangaratta Allison Winters was positive about the program saying LINE are incredibly grateful and proud to have been one of the local organisations to receive sponsorship from the Rural City of Wangaratta.
“Support from the Rural City of Wangaratta will allow us to continue to provide support and services for LGBTQIA+ people, their families, and allies in north-east Victoria through expansion to a brand- new project,” Allison Winters said.
“We’re thrilled to announce that this funding will support the opening of a brand new, community-led regional Pride Hub, the first of its kind in north-east Victoria, and only the second in regional Victoria. This space will include a retail shop for local LGBTQIA+ creators, makers, and authors to display and sell their works, and a program space for us to continue to coordinate peer support programs, art classes and more.
“This sponsorship opportunity is an absolute game-changer for our charity and for the community and we’re very excited to see what we can achieve with this much-needed boost” they added.
Pangerang Community House Coordinator Tennille Hall was also positive about the Council supporting local community organisations saying they are grateful Council has recognised their work in the community.
Ms Hall said, “The flexibility of this funding, allows us to pivot and respond to community need as required, such as during the pandemic lockdown periods where we turned our focus to sourcing material and sewing medical scrubs and masks for our community.
“As a community organisation we aim to support and compliment the work of the Municipal health and well-being plan, to ensure we have a community that continues to thrive. This sponsorship funding really assists us to do that work.”
For further details on the successful applicants for Community Sponsorship please visit: https://www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/Your-Council/Grants-and-funding/Community-Sponsorships