Two local community groups, Canowindra Connections Centre and the Lions Club of Canowindra, have been successful in receiving grants under the NSW Government’s 2025 Community Building Partnership Program.
Canowindra Connections Centre has received a $54,016 grant for the refurbishment of existing stables for food pantry storage and the Canowindra Lions have received $15,000 for the refurbishment and upgrade of their driver reviver van.
Canowindra Connections Centre's Jacquie Dredge said they applied for the grant last year and will be using it to renovate the old stables at the Uniting Church premises which they use for food basket storage.
Ms Dredge said they are thankful to the state government for giving them this grant.
Canowindra Connections Centre began three years ago and is an initiative of the Anglican Uniting Churches and they run a variety of community initiatives.
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As part of their long term vision, they are aiming to incorporate an outdoor area, along with a community garden at the Connections Centre.
Ms Dredge said this is very exciting as people will be able to see it come to life and use more of the space.
Ms Dredge said they are renovating the church premises so it can be a multipurpose facility for the whole community.
Canowindra Community Connections offers a weekly food basket on Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings along with doing kindness boxes and hampers.
The food basket program has been running for the past 10 years, Ms Dredge said.
Ms Dredge said they also host a seniors lunch every second month, and a blokes BBQ every other month.
The Lions Club of Canowindra will be putting their grant towards the refurbishing the Club's old Silver Bullet caravan which serves as a mobile kitchen and the local Driver Reviver van.
Canowindra Lions' Tommy Jeffs said they are really pleased they got this grant and it will help do up their current caravan which is absolutely fabulous.
Mr Jeffs said they use the caravan several times a year at various events and they have several handy people in the club and local handymen and builders who might be able to help refurbish the van.
Member for Orange Phil Donato said he wished to congratulate this year’s successful Community Building Partnership grants program applicants.
“This annual grant program has been an important financial support mechanism, helping to grow and sustain many local community organisations," he said.
“I look forward to visiting each of the successful applicants in the coming months, to personally congratulate them and learn more about the projects being undertaken with this funding.
“Given the funding cap for each electorate and being a highly competitive grants program, there certain to be some applicants who were unsuccessful - but they shouldn’t be discouraged from trying again next year.
“I have been hosting annual grant writing workshops to assist local organisations achieve funding success, and I encourage local grant applicants to participate in my next workshop,” Mr Donato said.
The Community Building Partnership program has funded more than 22,400 community projects since it commenced in 2009.
Local not-for-profit community organisations and councils were eligible to apply for grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
For more information, visit the Community Building Partnership website: nsw.gov.au/cbp
