Funds granted for community development

Peninsula community groups have been among the recipients of Gosford Council's annual community development grants.

Requests to the council totalled $198,970, an increase of just over 15 per cent on last year, from a grants allocation of $60,650.

Council assessed requests according to the individual project's ability to "assist and allow the local community to participate in meeting their own needs and bring about social change".

Some of the successful requests from organisations based in the Peninsula area included:

The Peninsula Community Safety Steering Committee and Peninsula Youth Advisory group received $1500 to set up a pilot project to improve young peoples' access to public space.

Council deemed the project high priority and gave the full $1500 requested.

The total cost of the project is $2650.

Last year the groups received $6000 funding.

The Umina Child Care Centre received $4000 for two projects.

The centre's Parent Support Network project received $2500 to help set up a support network for parents with children under two-years-of-age.

The cost of the project is $3040.

The centre also received $1500 for its School Transition Program to help children make a smooth transition to school life.

The cost of the project is $1778.

Last year the centre received $6000 under the scheme.

Council also recently handed out grants under its cultural grants scheme.

A total of $94,500 was handed out this year under the scheme after Council received requests totalling $233,779 city-wide.

To be eligible, groups must demonstrate that their projects will enhance the cultural life of the city.

Some of the successful Peninsula based groups included:

The Ettalong Beach Arts and Crafts Centre asked for and received $468 for the purchase of art books.

The Safer Cities pilot project on the Peninsula received $4000 to help promote the positive use of public space.

The total cost of the public space project was $5700.

Last year the Safer Cities project received $6000 under the scheme.

The Umina Child Care Centre received $3500 for an exhibition of children's creativity.

The total cost of the project was $5455 and the centre had asked for $5155.

Last year the centre received $6000 under the scheme.

The Pearl Beach Progress Association received $500 towards the publication of a book to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the local community hall.

The total cost of the project was $2500 and the Association had asked for the full amount.

The Peninsula Christian Life Centre received $1000 for its Peninsula Carols night.

The centre asked for $6000 towards the $19,835 project.

Last year the centre received $4000 for the same event.

Woy Woy Creative Writers received $3000 towards the printing of a book of short stories and poems.

The project's total cost was $11,625 and the group asked for $5125.

Carl Spears, August 16