More than 60 small, non-profit organisations across South Australia will share in a $1.97 million State Government funding boost, in the latest community grants announced today.

The Governance and Sustainability round is awarding grants of up to $50,000 to 64 organisations to support ongoing operations.

The one-off grants will allow the grassroots organisations, which play an important role in local communities, to build their governance and improve compliance, upskill employees and volunteers, and undertake upgrades to build organisational capacity.

Initiatives funded in this grant round include: providing wage support for organisations to achieve quality accreditation, increasing infrastructure sustainability measures such as solar systems and batteries, upgrading communal spaces, providing equipment including IT and providing resources to promote community connection, diversity and inclusion.

Included in the list of grant recipients is Lolly Jar Circus, an inclusive arts body which helps young people from all backgrounds – including young people with disability and socially at-risk young people – to learn circus skills such as tumbling, trapeze and juggling.

Lolly Jar Circus will receive a $38,537 grant to help improve operations and ensure its long-term sustainability for the benefit of current and future participants, their families and carers.

The list of funded non-profits includes organisations focussed on diversity and inclusion, such as The Queer Society which has received $19,408 grant to increase volunteer capacity and skills through training in child safety, leadership and advocacy.

The Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Persons Inc will receive a $23,687 grant to replace a temporary marquee, installed during the pandemic, with a permanent pergola. The increased outdoor sheltered area will improve triage for vulnerable clients.

There is also a focus on Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCO), with recipients including Kura Yerlo based in Seaton. For more than 30 years, Kura Yerlo has offered culturally responsive services for Aboriginal people including disability support programs, Men’s Shed artefact making, a Youth Arts Program and Nunga Ballet. Kura Yerlo has received a $50,000 grant to boost IT infrastructure and governance training for staff.

Ernabella Arts Inc will receive $38,200 for governance workshops, for their community, in Anangu. These workshops will help provide a better understanding of how the sector operates, the pathways available to artists and how to effectively allocate resources to generate measurable benefits.

Organisations in regional South Australia are also among grant recipients, including the Eudunda and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society which has received a $20,602 grant for an upgrade of the local Show hall, and Coonalpyn Community Hub has received $24,485 for an automated door and disability access ramp to make the hub’s entry more accessible.

Quotes

Attributable to Nat Cook

These grants are all about helping our small non-profit organisations who do so much to help others in the community.

Often these grassroots organisations allocate most of their funds to the communities they serve, leaving little for vital governance and sustainability initiatives that will help them maintain operations and support they work they do.

I’m looking forward to visiting many of the successful organisations over the coming months to hear more about their work and how the grants will help them better serve their communities.

Attributable to Judith Bowden, Lolly Jar Circus

We’re delighted to receive this grant which will go a long way towards helping sustain Lolly Jar Circus into the next decade.

The team at Lolly Jar Circus loves creating positive changes in the lives of young people.

We get to see so many young people improve their fitness and physical skills, as well as boost their confidence, in non-judgmental and supportive environment