Synergy Community Giving Fund Powering Connection
Synergy has awarded almost $70,000 to community organisations, charities and not-for-profits making a positive impact on their communities through its new Community Giving Fund grants program.
Synergy Chief Executive Officer, David Fyfe, said each Community Giving Fund grant of up to $10,000 was an important part of Synergy’s role in empowering local communities.
“The Community Giving Fund will support eight organisations to deliver programs that support vulnerable members of the community and boost social inclusion,” Mr Fyfe said.
“These community-based organisations demonstrated strong outcomes linked to key themes of ‘inclusivity and empowerment’ and ‘environment for the future’.
“We are excited to see the positive impact these grants will have on Western Australians.”
One of the recipients, Dismantle, received a grant to help deliver its BikeRescue program in partnership with the Mullewa Youth Centre, with support from the City of Greater Geraldton, over the summer school holidays.
The program concluded last week and was delivered across three sessions by Dismantle BikeRescue Program Coordinator, Barnaby Nichols, and colleague Brendan Thompson.
Mr Nichols said the Community Giving Fund meant the organisation could reach new regional communities looking for hands-on, high-impact youth engagement activities.
“Thanks to Synergy’s support, Brendan and I were able to bring a BikeRescue program to 10 young people aged 11-16 in Mullewa,” Mr Nichols said.
“The group had a great energy, with everyone sticking around for the full three days to build and paint their own bikes.
“We all had a lot of fun, making new connections and strengthening existing friendships, and test-riding the new bikes on bush trails as a storm broke was a magical moment."
Applications for this year’s grants round will be announced by Synergy in mid-2023.
The full list of 2022 Community Giving Fund Recipients are:
- Bluebush Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc. – Purchase of critical care equipment for injured wildlife in Dalwallinu, Coorow, Carnamah, Three Springs, Perenjori, Wongan Hills and surrounding areas.
- Denmark Environment Centre Inc. – Citizen science program at Mount Hallowell reserve collecting data on the biodiversity of the area in Denmark.
- Dismantle – Mentoring and Bicycle repair training program for at-risk youth in Mullewa/City of Greater Geraldton to develop mechanical bicycle repair skills and provide a carefree environment for youth mentoring.
- Dress for Success Perth – To provide job-readiness support for culturally and linguistically diverse women in Perth region, including professional clothes, interview training, and language and cultural advice.
- Finlayson House Women’s Refuge – Expansion project to increase accommodation capacity at the existing Goldfields Women’s Refuge, Finlayson House from 19 bedrooms to add six additional sole occupancy units to help women, children and families affected by domestic violence in Kalgoorlie.
- Jacaranda Community Centre Inc. – Community empowerment Art Yarning Circle in Belmont for Aboriginal women to create art works and discuss social issues affecting their community.
- Ocean Heroes – Purchase stand-up paddle boards for a program for autistic people to support social inclusion and access in Ocean Beach - Denmark & Middleton Beach - Albany.
- Oz Harvest Limited – Deliver a weekly hot breakfast and food relief outreach program in Kwinana to improve access to nutritious food and community supports for people experiencing homelessness, in collaboration with Frank Konecny Community Centre.
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Image: Dismantle’s Barnaby Nichols (left) and Brendan Thompson (right) with participants of the BikeRescue program at Mullewa, Western Australia. Credit: Dismantle