Helping hand for critical programs

Community groups from the City of Moreton Bay are among the 11 to receive grants from Unitywater’s annual Community Grants program.

They include Bamboo Projects, Fishability Qld, Loaves and Fishes Street Meet Care Services and Ten Little Pieces have been given around $5000 each.

The seven other groups, based in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions, also received between $3600 and $5000.

Joshua Zugajev, Unitywater Executive Manager Strategic Engagement, said recipients were an essential part of the community and delivered critical programs.

“Unitywater’s community grants program focuses on five pillars we know are important to keeping communities healthy - homelessness, mental health, domestic and family violence, children and youth, and the environment,” he said.

Bamboo Projects supports those with complex mental health concerns and disabilities gain access to community.

Its ‘Cleaning up the Waterways Program’ aims to remove 50 tonnes of marine debris from our waterways this year.

Director of Bamboo Projects Chris Paterson said with help from Unitywater they have hosted regular events over the past six months, engaging the community in environmental clean ups.

“We also engaged an Environmental Scientist to educate participants to sustainably care for the environment post-event,” Mr Paterson said.

Fishability QLD, based at Sandstone Point, helps community members at risk of social isolation and loneliness.

$5000 will help provide socially inclusive boating and fishing health and well-being activities while simultaneously assisting with cleaning up the waterways in and around the regions.

Loaves and Fishes Street Meet Care Services, which has centres in Caboolture and Slacks Creek, helps more than 3000 vulnerable people each week with food assistance hampers and low-cost groceries.

The $4848 it has received will help upgrade and buy equipment to help improve refrigeration and transport capabilities.

Ten Little Pieces is an environmental education and empowerment movement inspiring people to collect ten little pieces of litter anytime, anywhere.

The $5000 grant was provided for Ocean Education programs for 600 students in Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions.

Founder and Director Alison Foley said it started with her children. She told them they could have an ice cream after the beach and it would ‘cost’ 10 pieces of rubbish to be picked up.

The other recipients were Lily House, Mooloolah Waterwatch and Landcare, Noosa Environmental Education Hub, Noosa Women’s Shed, Reset Support Service, Wildlife Noosa and Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast.

Applications for the 2023/24 community grant program will open soon. For more information click here