Monday 15, August 2011

Community Solutions Inc.

Community Solutions is a not for profit organisation specializing in the design and delivery of solutions to community challenges. Based in the Peel Region, Community Solutions manages a number of services and projects across Western Australia that aim to build the capacity of communities, and create meaningful and impacting experiences for the people that live within them.

Community Solutions has been operating in the Peel for a number of years, and has recently amalgamated with Peel based WA Youth Events, which has seen it expand its services from employment and career development, to broader community development. With its new broad focus, Community Solutions works with communities across the state, and in particularly with the Peel community, to create effective partnerships and deliver programs aimed at addressing community issues in the areas of Leadership, Youth, Health, Employment, Education and Culture and the Arts.

Some of the services that Community Solutions currently delivers include:

Workforce Development Centre - The Peel Workforce Development Centre provides assistance to individuals of all ages at any point through lives to make educational and occupational choices, and to manage their careers. Community Solutions offers the Workforce Development Centre service on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s from 8:30- 4:30 from our office at 32 Sutton Street, Mandurah. We take referrals from other agencies and encourage the community to get involved in this free service.

YOH Fest - WA’s leading forum for youth health education. YOH Fest is a state-wide (WA) platform for high school students to take part in an innovative approach to health education.  It is an annual performing arts program that requires participating high school entrants to form teams and engage with each other to construct and perform their own dance sequence, drama play, art piece, media production or song performance to depict core messages around a relevant youth health theme. The project is run in regional centres across WA including Broome, Port Hedland, Kalgoorlie, Perth and Mandurah. www.yohfest.com.au

Youth on Leadership - Youth on Leadership’s missions is to contribute to a healthier WA, through enabling a self-aware, youth peer-educator population that will educate, influence and lead the wider youth community to make informed, proactive lifestyle choices. Through accelerated learning techniques, participants take part in camps, community forums and follow up sessions with trained facilitators, designed at developing leadership, self-confidence and effective communication skills, to enhance the participants’ capacity to make positive and responsible lifestyle choices.

Consulting - Community Solutions is available to advise clients on the design of tailored community development projects, with emphasis on developing capacity of people in clients’ communities.

Event Management - From simple peer focus groups, to week-long youth leadership camps and State-wide annual event calendars, Community Solutions provides the full scope of event management services, including the design, day-to-day co-ordination, delivery and evaluation of community events.

For more information contact:
Rhys Williams - Executive Officer
Community Solutions Inc
Ph: 08 9581 4606   m: 0433 576 771 
e: rhys@csi.org.au    PO Box 860, Mandurah WA 6210

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Available Grants & Funding Opportunities

Community Assistance Grants Scheme 2011/2012 - City of Mandurah
The City of Mandurah invites local not-for-profit incorporated community groups to apply for grants through the Community Association Fund, Round 1: 2011/12.

Community Association Fund - Round 1
Funding is available for project that:

• Increase community participation and involvement within City of Mandurah boundaries;
• Develop the skills of community associations and volunteer based organisations.

This round there is a total pool of $20,000 available, with two grant streams:

• One-off funding for community projects or events (grants up to $1,000). Associations applying for this grant can only receive funding once per financial year and only for different or new projects.
• Recurrent funding - co-contribution grants (grants up to $500). Associations are required to fund 50% of the project's cash contribution. This grant suits associations that provide the same community event or project every year.

CAF applications are currently open and close Friday 23 September at 4.30pm.

Partnership Fund
There is a total of $34,000 allocated for the 2011/12 financial year, which can provide recurrent funding for up to three years with supporting documentation such as a Strategic and or Business Plan. The key aims of the Partnership Fund (grants over $1,000) are to:

• Increase community access to essential programs and services through the development of partnerships between the City and non-profit community organisations.
• Provide assistance to non-profit community associations with the capacity to assess community need to develop essential community services or programs which are consistent with The City of Mandurah's strategic objectives and programs but not directly operated by the City.

PF applications are currently open and close Friday 14 October at 4.30pm.

More information about both funds or to obtain an information package and form contact Community Development Officer on 9550 3850 or cdo@mandurah.wa.gov.au or online at http://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/support.htm

Canon's 2011 Environmental Grants Program
Five equipment grants to a maximum of $5,000 each. Grants will be awarded under the following categories:

•National Awards: An environmental project with national significance and impact;
•Two Regional Awards: An environmental project based in a regional area with a regional impact;
•Grassroots Award: A community group with an income of $25,000 or less;
•Youth Award: A project led by an individual under 25 years of age.

Applications are currently open and close Wednesday, 31 August 2011.

More information, full T&C and to download the application form CLICK HERE.

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Community Workshops

Policy & Procedures for your Organisations - Peel Volunteer Resource Centre
Does your organisation have their policies & procedures documented and up to date?  If not then this interactive workshop is for you and will assist you to develop a Policy & Procedure Framework for your organisation to give practical ideas that you can easily implement in your organisation.

Date:      Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Time:     9.00am - 3.00pm
Venue:   PVRC, Mandurah Lotteries House, 7 Anzac Place
Cost:       Free for volunteers and $30 for paid employees (morning tea and lunch provided)
RSVP:    Call Bronwyn, PVRC on 9581 1187 as bookings are essential
 

Helping Hands for Community Events Workshop - Event Assist
This workshop is for those who run community events or would like to do so in the future. Presenters are all experienced professionals in their own events related fields and their knowledge and information provided will be invaluable to the success of your next event.

Date:     Monday, 12 September 2011
Time:     9.30am - 3.30pm
Venue:  The Theatre, Bridgewater Lifestyle Village, 106 Oakleigh Dr, Erskine
Cost:       Free for volunteers and only $30 for paid staff (light lunch & refreshments provided)
RSVP:    Call Bronwyn, PVRC on 9581 1187 as places are limited

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Community Noticeboard

What is a Deductible Grant Recipient (DGR)?

DGR is a kind of ‘special tax status’ that an organisation can apply for.  If your organisation is endorsed (officially recognised) by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as a DGR:

•  people who make gifts or donations to your organisation are able to ‘deduct’ those gifts for their own income tax purposes (that is, the donor can claim the donation as a deduction when filing their personal income tax return); and
• your organisation can receive funds from certain grant makers and philanthropic bodies, which are only able to give money to organisations that have DGR status.

So, when you see wording ‘donations over $2.00 are tax deductible’ – the organisation offering this as an incentive to the donor must first be ‘endorsed’ by the ATO as a DGR. In general, unless your organisation is endorsed as a DGR, people donating to your organisation can not claim their donation against their tax.

If your organisation as a whole is not eligible to be a DGR, it may be that certain activities of the organisation could attract DGR status. In these circumstances, it may be worth considering establishing a separate fund or entity, which could be eligible for DGR endorsement. You should seek legal advice on this option.
The legislation that sets out the requirements for DGR status is called the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) (Tax Act).

More information go to ATO Website or check out the ATO Fact Sheet

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Current Successful Peel Grant Recipients

Lotterywest
In June there were grants totaling over $19 million.

• Bridge Builders Ministries (Inc.) Mandurah $1,000 towards the work of this organisation, as recognised through the 2011 WA Multicultural Community Service Awards.
• City of Mandurah $132,910 towards a project to develop a planned approach to the provision of community facilities in Mandurah to accommodate the needs of NFP community organisations delivering valued community services.
• Fairbridge WA (Inc.) Pinjarra $1,163,807 towards accessible accommodation, equipment, multi-purpose facilities and the upgrade of key internal roads and pathways to provide for disabled access within Fairbridge Village.
• Midway Community Care Mandurah $30,000 towards modification of two vehicles by enabling people with a disability access to community support services.
• Shire of Murray-North Dandalup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade $9,632 towards equipment to enhance service delivery by the North Dandalup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade.
• St John Ambulance Australia (WA) Inc $1,299,338 towards property improvements, equipment and ambulances for the volunteer ambulance services and volunteer first aid services throughout WA.
• Uniting Church in Aust Property Trust (WA)-FinUcare $29,040 towards furniture and equipment to fit out a new office and support the provision of financial counseling to over 600 people in Mandurah each year.
• Yarloop Community Resource Centre Inc. $12,000 towards professional fees to produce new strategic, business and marketing plans for the Centre.

Caring for our Country - Australian Government
Total funding for Western Australia was $24,489.871.

• South West Catchment Council (includes Peel Harvey Catchment Council) $10,564,000 over 2 years for its program of investment that will work towards achieving a dynamic and productive environment that survives, adapts and thrives while also sustaining its communities. This will be achieved through projects that address sustainable agriculture,  the protection of RAMSAR wetlands, reduce nutrients in coastal hotspots, rehabilitate the coastal zone, enhance connectivity of critical habitats, protect threatened ecological communities and control Weeds of National Significance. Indigenous engagement will be integrated across all programs. Indigenous people will be employed in projects including a project specific to the Indigenous participation target that will result in on-ground works and a Cultural Landscape assessment for environmental protection outcomes.

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