Celebrating 21 years of funding support for community groups

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

Children, seniors, refugees and people with disability will benefit from numerous local projects funded by the 2015-2016 Community Assistance Program (CAP).

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM gave close to $40,000 to local community groups at a special presentation event on 15 September 2015. 

The money will fund 48 separate projects across the City including:

• Programs for youth at Cranebrook, North St Marys and Claremont Meadows
• Cultural celebrations including Enosis Greek Christmas, Kajo-Keji Celebration, Madi Gathering and South Sudanese Service Connect event
• New equipment for community groups such as a barbecue for youth outreach, Information Technology to assist kids with disabilities
• Moonlight Cinema event at North Penrith (Kingswood Park)
• New mural for KU Penrith Preschool (Kingswood)
• Hardware items for the Nepean Mens Shed
• Cooking classes for newly arrived migrants
• Awareness raising events for Mental Health Month, Children's Week and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Awareness Month.

Cr Fowler said a significant number of groups that applied for CAP grants are made up of volunteers only and receive no other government funding.

"This very successful program is now in its 21^st year," Cr Fowler said. "Council has always been proud of CAP and the help it provides community organisations and groups to run activities and projects that benefit local residents.

"I'm pleased to see the wide range of community initiatives being funded, including cultural, educational, health and recreation activities.

"Council understands the enormous task small community organisations and groups take on. We hope these grants will go some way towards sustaining these worthwhile projects."

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Wednesday, 16 September 2015.