OneFortyOne provides funding for major regional grants

Major grants are again on offer for Limestone Coast communities via the third OneFortyOne Community Capacity Building Grant round, which opened on 15th February 2016. These grants are made possible through a funding partnership between the Stand Like Stone Foundation and OneFortyOne Plantations. The partnership commenced in 2014, with OneFortyOne providing $20,000 annually to support charitable projects that build capacity within the Limestone Coast region.

Projects funded through the OneFortyOne Community Capacity Building grants have brought extensive sustainable benefits to the region and have directly benefited youth, unemployed and pre-school groups, with indirect benefits extending broadly across the Limestone Coast.

Owen Trumper, CFO OneFortyOne Plantations Ltd with Fiona Pulford, Mt Gambier AEDC Action Group Coordinator with the Play on Wheels Trailer.
 

In 2014, the Naracoorte Independent Learning Centre received $10,000 for “Project Abroad”; a project where students achieved life-skills, whilst completing SACE credits, and culminated in a trip to Cambodia for participants. Long-term benefits of the project include the increase in leadership capacity and the creation of a self-sustainable mentoring group focussing on the wellbeing of youth in the Naracoorte area. Also in 2014, the Mount Gambier Independent Learning Centre received $10,000 to renovate the Mount Schank Hall into a family home. This project provided a real life learning experience for students to achieve SACE credits, whilst developing skills via instruction in trades, literacy, numeracy, as well as targeting cultural, physical and mental development.

(From left): Owen Trumper, CFO OneFortyOne Plantations Ltd and Ruth Schubert, Director Stand Like Stone present cheque to Tammy Schinckel and Naracoorte Independent Learning Centre students and staff.
 

In 2015 funding was earmarked for two projects, including the “Play, Engage, Connecting Families” project, which saw the design, build and set up of a trailer that holds natural and recycled material for creative play use by families in parks and public spaces around Mount Gambier. The trailer is manned by volunteers and promotes a shift away from entertaining our children to engaging with them, away from commercial, pre-purposed and pre-fabricated toys and playgrounds to natural environments and activities. The mobile play trailer has already been well used in and around Mount Gambier, with several appearances at The Rail, and a guest appearance in the Mount Gambier Christmas Pageant. “The feedback from community has been tremendous and it is wonderful to see the children and their parents interacting together and creating with the materials in the trailer,” said Fiona Pulford, Stand Like Stone Director and Mt Gambier AEDC Action Group Coordinator. “Families have been unleashing their inner creativity. The use of these materials allows such freedom and utilises all of their senses to enable families to interact, create and play together. Bamboo and conduit becomes a tepee and pallets and old tyres become a car. We have come full circle and the play trailer is moving to how we used to play, with parents and children challenging each other to explore risk, solve problems and grow their relationship.” Fiona said. The trailer will be at Vansittart Park from 9.30-10.30am on Monday 7th March and parents of young children are encouraged to bring them along.

The OneFortyOne Community Capacity Building grants are now open for 2016 and organisations can apply for funding from $5,000 to $20,000 for charitable projects that build capacity in the Limestone Coast. “The funding partnership with OneFortyOne contributes to building a thriving and resilient region. These grants are able to make a real and sustainable difference and we congratulate OneFortyOne on taking the initiative to give back to the community in such a meaningful way, “ said Georgie McKay, Stand Like Stone, Executive Officer. Eligible projects must have a charitable benefit and will be assessed on their ability to grow communities and progress them towards self-sustainability.

Applications close at 5.00pm on 31st March 2016. Application forms and further information are available from www.standlikestone.com.au.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Bill DeGaris, Chairman, Stand Like Stone Foundation
P: 61 8 8721-0480
E: info@standlikestone.com.au
M: 0417 818 985

Georgie McKay, Executive Officer, Stand Like Stone Foundation
P: 61 8 8721-0480
E: georgie@standlikestone.com.au
M: 0409 828 423

Owen Trumper, Chief Operating Officer, OneFortyOne Plantations
P: 61 3 8554 0600
E: otrumper@onefortyone.com