Optus Connecting Communities Grants Program - Advertorial

Australian Communications giant Optus has again announced its Connecting Community Grants Program which provides funding to Not for Profit organisations who help reduce social isolation for those in need and reconnect disengaged youth.

For the second year the Optus Grants Program is seeking online applications, from Not for Profit organisations, for funding of between $1000 and $5000. Applications can be submitted until 31st July 2009.

The Optus Connecting Communities Grants Program enables Optus employees and Not for Profit organisations to proactively seek ways to reduce social isolation and reconnect disengaged youth.

Projects that will be considered can be split into two categories:

•Disengaged Youth
Disengaged Youth are adolescents and young adults (up to the age of 25) who have become disengaged from society due to lack of education, skills training, employment opportunities, homelessness, substance abuse, and poverty. Optus will provide funding to projects that aim to provide solutions for disengaged youth enabling them to reconnect with society and help to build a better future for themselves.

•Social Inclusion
Social isolation encompasses social, physical, emotional and geographic isolation. Grant applications should demonstrate how projects will promote and enhance social inclusion such as building social networks, increasing participation in community or family life, or providing access for services such as health and education.

Applications are invited from Australian incorporated organisations that have been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as Tax Concession Charities (TCC) and Deductible Gift Recipients (DGR).

Preference will be given to projects that are:
• Submitted online with a fully completed Application for Grant Form.
• Demonstrate a well defined project with clear goals, objectives, outcomes and evaluation.

The Grants aims to support programs that produce positive social outcomes and meeting demonstrable needs such as:
•new opportunities, skills and confidence;
•access to education;
•removal of barriers to empowerment;
•new and strong support networks;
•connecting disengaged young people to community life; and
•addressing socially isolated community needs

As well the application must clearly demonstrate how the project relates to assisting Disengaged Youth or building Social Inclusion.

Applications and guidelines can be downloaded at www.optus.com.au/grantsprogram

Further information can be obtained via email to connectingcommunities@optus.com.au