Community Grants – Expressions of Interest now open
Our Community Grants help fund projects, programs or equipment that break down barriers and create opportunities for kids who are living with disability, experiencing disadvantage, or feeling isolated to connect, participate and thrive.
We love community-led ideas that make a real difference, whether that’s creating more accessible space, welcoming kids of all abilities into activities, or bringing opportunities closer to home in regional and remote areas.
We’re especially excited to support ideas that:
- Welcome kids of all abilities into sport, arts, recreation or social activities
- Make community spaces, clubs or events more accessible
- Provide adaptive or specialist equipment so kids can participate safely
- Bring opportunities closer to home in regional or remote communities
- Simply help kids feel valued and included
Our Community Grants are offered by invitation, but if you have an idea that champions access and inclusion, we’d love to hear from you. Starts by submitting a short Expression of Interest and telling us about your idea.
Not sure where to start or whether your idea is a good fit? Feel free to reach out to our Kids Support team at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
- Be a community-based organisation that provides services directly to:
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- Children aged 0 – 18 years &
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- Children living with a disability or chronic illness &/or
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- Children experiencing disadvantage or living under financial hardship
- Be based and operating in NSW or the ACT
- Be a not-for-profit or community organisation classified by the ACNC as small or medium sized and/or that have an annual revenue below $6M
- Be a school, social or sporting group or association
- Require financial support to deliver a project that will directly promote inclusion and/or accessibility for children living with a disability or experiencing disadvantage.
- Tell us about your project through our simple online Expression of Interest form. You’ll answer a few questions about:
- What your idea is
- The kids it will support
- Why it matters
- The estimated cost
- If your project aligns with our values and priorities, we’ll send you an invitation and link to submit a full application.
- Communication software and portable amplification equipment
- Inclusive recreation equipment and resources
- Accessible sporting equipment such as inflatable surf boards
- Ability switches and switch-adapted toys
- Customised or adjustable furniture
- Mobility equipment and resources
- Community garden/food education set-up costs
- Musical instruments and/or sports equipment that have a clear purpose to invite, include and support children living with a disability or experiencing disadvantage
Feel free to contact the Kids Support team at Variety before completing an application to ensure your project aligns with the guidelines.
Community Grant Case Study
Cooks Hill Surf Lifesaving Club
In 2016, Variety granted Cooks Hill Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) two floating wheelchairs to give kids living with a disability the chance to swim in the surf safely. Cooks Hill SLSC is a volunteer led and progressive community organisation which offers kids living with a disability the opportunity to enjoy time at the beach and in the water just like many others. Some six years later, the floating wheelchairs are still used regularly and have seen people of all shapes, sizes and abilities enjoy a day at the beach.
“People and families from all over the country have travelled to have a beach and surf experience in our floating chairs. We have several regulars, both individuals and groups. They have really changed lives. We have even had adults and children in them that have never experienced or tasted salt water,” says John Mayo, a lifetime member of Cooks Hill SLSC and regularly involved in the club’s beach inclusion programs.
The donation of the floating wheelchair is another way Variety helps local kids get the most out of life. The chairs make sure children like Amelia (pictured right) don’t miss out. Amelia is nonverbal, quadriplegic and blind. She loves to surf and she is one of many who love the freedom the chairs provide.
“With Amelia, we take her out in the chair and she gets out of the chair and floats around. The chairs provide safety and security. Some users stay in the chair, others will leave the chairs just using it as a means of entering the water,” said John. The club also have beach matting for mobility, electric wheelchair bases and a transfer hoist.
“They have been used and used putting huge smiles not only on the faces of kids and adults who use them, but also their families.” Cooks Hill SLSC is committed to providing opportunities for kids and adults with disabilities to enjoy the beach and water.
“We are very passionate about everyone having access to a day at the beach and to further this every Australian should be able to be a surf lifesaver as we all have a lot to contribute no matter who we are. We have been incredibly grateful to receive these chairs as they have changed lives.”