The first charities to receive support from the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund have been named with homeless people, families doing it tough and the LGBTIQ+ community heading the list.
Chief Minister, Andrew Barr said 29 local community organisations would share in almost $400,000 of donations from the fund.
Mr Barr said that included for support were CatholicCare’s pilot program addressing homelessness in the ACT; Parentline ACT’s outreach program to parents and carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and Uniting Care Kippax’s Ginninderry Social Enterprise Hub.
He said also to benefit was the Canberra Police and Citizens Youth Club’s Youth Engagement Program.
Mr Barr said the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund was established in 2018 with a $5 million grant from the Government to kick-start a long-term commitment to local charities and the community sector.
“These grants are providing vital funds to community organisations doing great work with vulnerable people,” Mr Barr said.
Chair of the fund administrator, Hands Across Canberra, Diane Kargas Bray ( pictured) said the community sector was an important part of how the city functioned.
“Each year we consult widely about the need that exists and how we might work with the community sector to address real issues such as homelessness, disability, access to employment for trans and sexually diverse people and domestic and family violence,” Ms Kargas Bray said.
“We are committed to ensuring the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund is a true collaboration between the community, business and Government.”
A full list of all 29 recipients can be accessed at this PS News link.
