Hands Across Canberra Grants
Hands Across Canberra has been working in Canberra for a number of years and its role is to encourage Canberrans to think about being generous locally. To help our large community sector get access to much needed funds Hands Across Canberra raises money which is then allocated to those community organisations doing great work with our most vulnerable people.
In 2019, Hands Across Canberra is working with Canberran charitable organisations and social enterprises to improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our city. The following priority areas for 2019 have been defined by consultations with community members and organisations, subject matter experts, and ACT government agencies working in the community sector. Priorities are intended to ensure they align to Canberra’s most acute needs and target the most vulnerable.
Improve wellbeing and mental health of
- Children and young people
- Domestic violence survivors and perpetrator programs
- Trans, gender diverse and intersex people
Improve employment outcomes and equality for
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- Persons living with disability
- Precariously employed individuals
- Refugees and migrants
- Trans, gender diverse and inter-sex people
Prevention and post-prison release support for young people (8-18 yrs) and their families.
Quality of life improvements for all Canberrans with a focus on initiatives, services and activation in outer suburban areas
Working with children, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families to strengthen engagement and belonging.
Reducing the risk of older women becoming homeless
Effective interventions for children and young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing organisations
Please click here for more information on our upcoming Chief Minister's Charitable Fund grant round.
Examples of projects we've supported
In our eight years, we have donated over $2.5 million to over 100 projects aimed at making a difference to some of our most vulnerable people.
Some of the great, local organisations we have supported since 2010 include:
- Karinya House: A grant of $10,000 supported the introduction of a designated Caseworker to focus on supporting women who have experienced domestic violence.
- Mustard Seed United Food Garden: A grant of $5000 assisted in the establishment of The Mustard Seen Uniting Food Pantry at Gungahlin Uniting Church and Community Centre.
- Safe Shelter: $5000 was provided to help Safe Shelter pay for upgrades to permit overnight use of churches for shelter during Canberra's winters.
- Menslink: A grant of $9,200 helped expand capacity in the mentoring program by 66 per cent, providing more positive male role models for young men.
- Hartley lifecare: $5000 provided an opportunity to carry out essential planning, scoping, research and modelling work.
Read about the organisations and projects we funded last year in our Impact Report: 2018
