Any project becomes easier once you know what help is available to you.

The Newcastle community is not short of place making tools and resources if you know where to find them. Here are some to get you started:

Funding

Need some dollars to get your place making project off the ground? Here are some opportunities to get you started:

Make Your Place Community Grants – small project grants of up to $2000 dollars.

Community Assistance Program - Grants for bigger projects. From $1000 available annually. Various categories including neighbourhood events, arts and culture and environment.

Subsidy Program – subsidised use of Council stage, venue hire, printing and road closures.

Sports Partnership Program - for improvements to sporting facilities.

Community Development Support Expenditure (CDSE) – annual funding scheme designed to make sure that registered clubs in NSW contribute to their local communities.

Hunter Water Corporation Community Grants Program  – provides localised funding to community organisations in key areas of water conservation, sustainability, environmental and social outcomes, giving a direct benefit to the local community. Contact Hunter Water on 02 4979 9873.

Community Builders NSW  - website provides an interactive electronic clearing house for everyone involved in community level social, economic and environmental renewal. This includes community leaders, community and government workers, volunteers, program managers, academics, policy makers, youth and seniors. Includes information about various grant programs. Telephone enquiries to 02 9716 2846

Community organisations and agencies

Your project could benefit from partnering with a community organisation. In fact, partnerships in place making are encouraged!

1. Hunter Volunteer Centre – Lvl3/ 432 Hunter St, Newcastle NSW 2300, 02 4927 5544
2. Renew Newcastle – a not-for-profit company linking creative enterprises to vacant premises in the city centre.
3. Transition Town Newcastle – “grass-roots, non-profit organisation creating a positive vision for the future”
4. Service clubs, eg: Lions Club International - 40 Brown Rd Broadmeadow NSW 2292 - 02 4940 8033; Newcastle Legacy - 1/ 205 Maitland Rd, Mayfield NSW 2304 - 02 4968 9501; Newcastle Veterans’ Affairs Network - 6 Auckland St, Newcastle NSW 2300, 1300 551 91
5. Newcastle Surf Lifesaving Club, Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle NSW 2300 - 02 4926 4176
6. Girl Guides Association - for information about groups in your area, contact Guide House on 02 8396 5200
7. Scouts Australia (Hunter) – PO Box 854 The Junction, 2291 - 02 4929 1760
8. Family Action Centre  University of Newcastle, 02 4921 5000
9. Hunter Region Landcare Network  – 02 4934 8110

You can also browse the Community Directory for more contact details of local community organisations.