Applications for Yarra’s 2018 annual grants program are now open, with more than $850,000 in funding available for grass roots community programs.

The grants are open to not-for-profit organisations in the areas of community development, family, children and youth, community housing, sport and recreation, and sustainability, while individuals as well as organisations are eligible to apply for arts and culture grants.

Applications are open from 16 June – 1 August 2017. For more information or to apply, visit the Annual Grants webpage or contact Yarra’s Grants Team on 9205 5170 or yarragrants@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Grants success story

Open Table - a volunteer organisation providing free meals prepared with food that would have otherwise gone to waste – received an annual grant for 2017.

Program coordinator Angela O’Toole said the volunteer organisation uses “food sharing as a way to bring the community together as well as reducing the immense waste of food in our society.”

The group holds free lunch events every month in Richmond, Fitzroy and North Carlton, with volunteers cooking up delicious meals using donated ingredients.

 “We aim to create an inclusive environment, welcoming people to the table from a cross-section of the community,” Angela said.

Anyone can attend an Open Table event – “We have international students, graduates, young professionals, retirees, pensioners, newly arrived people, families, people from supported residential facilities - really everyone is welcome to attend either to volunteer or just to eat,” she said.

To find out more, visit the Open Table website.