Community Small Grants

Successful applications will include:

• a clear project scope
• a project plan
• a project budget based on quotes or detailed estimates, reasonable assumptions or previous experience with similar projects
• landowner consent if the land is not owned by the Applicant
• proof of incorporation for community groups
• evidence of $20 million Public Liability Insurance in the name of the Applicant
• evidence of community consultation and strong community support for the project.

• Maximum of one application per group per financial year.
• All applications should determine budgets based on quotes/actual costs. All projects should retain all receipts for project activities, as projects may be audited on completion.
• All recipients must use Hunter Local Land Services evaluation forms (for projects and scholarships, and submit evaluation results to Hunter Local Land Services) within 2 weeks of end of contract date/project completion with final reports which will include details of the event and number of participants/people engaged, overview of skills/knowledge and learnings.
• Applicants/groups must be residing in or registered in the Hunter Local Land Services region.
• At least 2 photos from the event/activity that can be used by Local Land Services, Hunter region for promotional purposes.
• The group/organisation must have been in operation for at least 6 months.
• your organisation/community group must either be incorporated OR auspiced by an organisation that is incorporated or has an ABN.
• unincorporated groups can access financial assistance; however, a tax invoice from a supplier (e.g. caterer, guest speaker) must be issued for payment directly to Local Land Services, Hunter region.

Your project must aim to build community participation and knowledge and skills with community organisations or local communities. Your project can seek funding of up to $2,000 for community engagement and participation. Projects and or knowledge and skills building, field-based events such as field days, workshops or demonstration days are eligible.

All projects must be completed within the agreed contract date, or on or before 30 May of the financial year the grant was offered.

Successful projects will be selected using the following criteria based on how well they meet each of the criteria, and the funding available (nominal allocation per funding round). All projects must meet all criteria below at a minimum to be considered for funds.

An assessment panel will review all applications and score each of the criteria and rank projects based on total scores:

1. Community involvement - The extent to which the project is supported by the local community and/or will actively generate community support and participation.
2. Skills and knowledge gained will provide public benefits - The extent to which the project will result in local land management benefits or engagement of local community, such as influencing best land management and/or sustainable agricultural productivity practices, improving decision making and linkages to other activities or local priority issues.
3. Evidence-based decisions - The extent to which the applicant has sought appropriate advice (including from LLS) and consulted with relevant stakeholders and is implementing/demonstrating best practice techniques or seeking professional advice in delivery.
4. Collaboration and Linkages - The extent to which the project engages partners, landholders and local communities, as appropriate, and builds into other local programs or priorities.
5. Risk management - The applicant has considered risks to project delivery, safety and the environment and identified appropriate controls to themselves, contracted parties and general public/other participants.