Blue Mountains News

Eight local organisations received more than $43,000 in ClubGRANTS funding at a presentation on 22 August, held at the Springwood Sports Club.

Council convened the new ClubGRANTS Local Committee which distributed the money as part of the ClubGRANTS Category 1 funding. The clubs who provided the funding were Panthers Glenbrook Bowling Club, Springwood Sports Club and Katoomba RSL.

Blue Mountains City Council CEO, Dr Rosemary Dillon emphasised the importance of grant funding opportunities as critical support for meaningful local initiatives.

“One of the most special things about the Blue Mountains is the way we support our community to thrive. Without essential financial support like this, the community groups who play such a crucial role, would not be able to continue,” Dr Dillon said.

“ClubGRANTS is one of the ways we support community organisations, and it’s unique as the funding goes directly from local businesses to local organisations and at its core is about community helping community.”

Peter Perry, General Manager for Blue Mountains Food Services expressed his gratitude for the grant, and said the funding is critical in allowing them to grow.

“Cook + Connect is a food-based skill development program for NDIS participants. The program can be run in their home, but also runs out of Ben’s Café in Lawson,” Mr Perry said.

“It teaches participants the skills to cook, serve and enjoy nutritious meals with family and friends. Seeing the growing confidence and enhanced independence of each of our participants is unbelievably rewarding.

“The program is currently at capacity and this grant funding means we can expand the program and bring that experience and those essential skills to more Blue Mountains locals, and the whole team is really excited about that.”

Here’s the full list of the 2024 ClubGRANTS Blue Mountains recipients:

• Belong Blue Mountains – Pick N Mix youth space - Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre
• Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre – BANC Community Dinner
• Blue Mountains Food Service – Cook+Connect expansion 
• Blue Mountains Women's Health & Resource Centre – First Nations Women's Native Food Garden
• Link Wentworth – Blue Mountains Community Support Hub
• Rotary Club of Central Blue Mountains Inc – Food Relief Program
• Springwood Neighbourhood Centre Co-operative Ltd – Blue Fringe Art and Literature Festival
• Walk if Off Australia Incorporated – Walk it Off – Springwood
• Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre Inc – The Young & The Young at Heart – creating caring communities.