Sharks Have Heart hosted a free Grant Writing workshop in April, which proved to be a game-changer for local volunteers seeking funding for their sporting clubs and community organisations.
Held as part of the Heart to Heart Volunteers professional development initiative, the workshop provided attendees from various local Junior Rugby League Clubs, sporting partners, ‘From the Heart’ Giving Partners, and community organisations with a competitive edge when applying for grants.
“Many of our grassroots sporting and community organisations rely on funding from grants to run their sports and programs,” Sharks Have Heart staff member, Rachal Allan, said.
“Workshops like this help to better understand what grant providers are looking for and how we can better structure our applications to be more successful.
“Attendees were shown how to find grants that were appropriate for their club or organisation, how to look for keywords, and how to structure their answers.”
The program was facilitated by the President of the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber and CEO of Mint Marketing, Jeanne Zweck, who along with colleague Dr Matilda Lucas generously volunteered time and valuable expertise to support and mentor the attendees.
“Jeanne and Tilly spoke about how we can include letters of support from other organisations or local politicians to bolster applications, and work together to contribute to the Sutherland Shire,” Allan said.
Hosted at the St George and Sutherland Community College in Jannali, the workshop also served as a networking platform for local sporting clubs and not-for-profit organisations, fostering connection and collaboration between Sutherland Shire based individuals and groups.
With a strong focus on creating opportunities for volunteers to become involved with local organisations, the Sharks Heart to Heart program aims to rebuild and reinforce a flourishing network of volunteers to contribute to an inclusive, connected community, and create a thriving sport sector in the Sutherland Shire.
“Sport Australia insights tell us that volunteers often don't feel skilled or equipped enough to take on roles within clubs and organisations. We're hoping that the Heart to Heart personal development sessions can help volunteers to gain the skills and confidence to give back to our community, and to get something out of volunteering,” Allan said.
The next Heart to Heart professional development session will be a Cultural Awareness Workshop, facilitated by Aunty Deanna Schreiber on Tuesday 30th May from 6-8 pm at PointsBet Stadium, in celebration of Indigenous Round and National Reconciliation. Fill out this FORM to register your attendance.
To become a Heart to Heart volunteer fill out the online volunteer profile form or contact [email protected].
