The Supporting Stronger Communities (SSC) grant program gives Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres the opportunity to access up to $10,000 in grant funding to target poverty and disadvantage in their local communities.

The Sidney Myer Fund has formed a partnership with the Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association (ANHCA) to deliver the SSC grant program.

The Sidney Myer Fund provide grants across Australia to improve peoples’ lives in lasting and positive ways. In line with this, the SSC grant program has been developed to enable Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres to apply for grants to respond to emerging needs to address poverty and disadvantage to strengthen their local communities.

Funding available

Through this grant program, Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres can apply for up to $10,000 for projects that seek to address poverty or disadvantage within their local communities.

The total annual funding available through this grant program is $250,000. All projects undertaken through this grant program would need to be completed within 12 months from commencement.

Please note:

• Applicants are only able to receive funding once every two years
• This grant program will seek to achieve national coverage across the total grant pool. As such, targets are set for the proportion of funding that will be allocated in each state per round.

Projects undertaken within this grant program will be designed to address poverty or other forms of disadvantage. At times, there might be specific needs within the community that are given priority in a grant round.

When there are identified priorities, they will be clearly advertised within the current round and funding will be prioritised for projects meeting that need within the community.

What can be funded?

You can apply for funding to cover costs associated with delivering projects which can include (and is not limited to)

• Wages for the delivery of the project
• Equipment hire or purchase costs
• Hall hire costs for off site facilities
• Community Training costs

Who can apply?

• This small grant program is available to all Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres across Australia that are in towns or cities with a population of more than 15,000 people. Small grants for applicants in rural and regional Australia are available through the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s (FRRR) Strengthening Rural Communities program.
• Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres need to be a member of their state peak body which is a member of the national peak body ANHCA. If you are unsure, contact the state peak body.
• Only one submission will be considered per Neighbourhood or Community House or Centre in each round.

Who can't apply? 

• Community organisations that are not working in partnership with a Neighbourhood or Community Houses or Centre.
• Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres who have received a grant from the SSC grant program in the last 2 years.
• Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres who have not completed their acquittal for previous SSC grants.

• Phone: 0428 964 817
• Email: jarrah@anhca.org