October 14, 2016

UOW grants support community projects

Children with additional needs and Illawarra refugees in need of legal support are among the beneficiaries of this year’s Community Engagement Grant Scheme (CEGS), announced at a special breakfast today (Thursday 13 October).

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has run CEGS for more than 10 years, awarding $520,000 in grants to 65 projects. It is a scheme where campus staff and students, in partnership with community organisations, are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to address a community need.

Community Engagement Manager, Dr Melissa Thompson, said this year’s projects are a reflection of UOW’s commitment to developing innovative ways of contributing to communities outside of the University.

“The projects we have selected demonstrate aspirations for socially sustainable projects, with tangible outcomes for their respective communities across the Illawarra and South Coast,” Dr Thompson said.

CEGS projects in the past have included improving physical health for individuals living with mental illness; family law pathways; improving nutrition for at risk elderly; creating better awareness for local Indigenous people; an anti-smoking campaign for youth; a DVD resource kit to support children with cerebral palsy; and reading resources for community language schools.

This year’s successful recipients include:
· Creating a Mentoring Network to Support Parent Advocacy for Children with Additional Needs
· Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers
· Retrieving Lost Community Stories: Linking regional archival photo collections using advanced visual technologies
· Volunteer Legal Support for Refugees in the Illawarra
· Developing Online Resources and Videos to Support Community-Based Multi-Sensory Room
· Establishing the Tertiary Learning Needs of Students of the Illawarra Recovery Learning College

More information about CEGS can be found on the CEGS website.