Muswellbrook community groups to benefit after appointment of first council grants specialist

Muswellbrook Shire's local community groups will be the big winners with the shire council appointing its first Community Grants Officer, to help local groups find extra funding for their work.

It is hoped the scheme will reap a big financial windfall for Muswellbrook Shire groups and businesses after a pilot programme at the Singleton Council last year secured $1.2 million for projects in the area.

The grants officer will help local sports, community and welfare groups identify and develop major projects and to seek funding from the state and federal governments and other funding bodies.

Coal & Allied's Community Trust has funded the new position, after committing more than $800,000 to help the Muswellbrook Shire Council and three other local councils engage grants officers.

Carolyn O'Brien, the new Community Grants Officer, said she was thrilled to be working on the project.

"We are looking forward to getting started, to help projects get better co-ordinated and start aiming to secure larger grants where possible," Ms O'Brien said.

"There is also a great opportunity for larger regional projects through the grants officer network that is being established with the other shires."

The individual grants officers will seek out potential funding sources and provide information and guidance to local organisations to help them achieve success in obtaining access to those funds.

Muswellbrook Shire Council Mayor John Colvin said: "This is a fantastic initiative of the Coal & Allied Community Trust and one I have been eager to support from the start.

"We expect this grants officer will help secure grants to support groups which bring many social, cultural and economic benefits to the whole shire.

"Muswellbrook Shire has many worthy community groups, sporting bodies, not-for-profit organisations and small businesses, and we believe this project will help give them a much needed boost.

"This programme will be an opportunity for them to work in partnership with the council and Coal & Allied, which will benefit them and the community as a whole."

Coal & Allied Community Trust Executive Officer, Stephen Sneddon, said the partnership will also provide community groups with the opportunity to learn new skills and will provide practical, tangible support to local community groups.

"We are proud to be doing what we can to make a more sustainable local community," Mr Sneddon said.

ENDS
Media Enquiries:
Nathan Scholz
07 3361 4354 / 0417 613 174

Community groups to benefit after appointment of first council grants specialist [PDF: 26 KB]