Connecting Seniors Grant Program

⁠⁠⁠Funding to help local government authorities and not-for-profit community organisations deliver projects to support seniors in connecting with others. This grant program builds on the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors grants.

Program objective

The program aims to build social connections and reduce isolation for older people, including those aged 65 years and over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal people.

The objectives of the Connecting Seniors Grant Program are to:

• provide meaningful and lasting social connections.
• help older people connect with each other in small group activities in person.
• enable older people to develop lasting quality relationships.
• engage new people, particularly harder-to-reach older people.

This program is funded and administered by Department of Communities and Justice.

Eligibility

Who can apply

1. incorporated not-for-profit community organisations, including

• incorporated organisations registered and approved as not-for-profit bodies by NSW Fair Trading
• not-for-profit companies, limited by guarantee and registered in NSW (must have ACNC registration and/or DGR status)
• associations (registered under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 with NSW Fair Trading)
• NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils
• religious organisations operating in NSW
• NSW non-government organisations established under an Act of Parliament.

2. NSW local councils operating under the Local Government Act 1993.

Where possible, funding will be distributed across NSW to ensure an equitable spread of funds and projects.

Who can’t apply

• for-profit organisations
• individuals
• organisations that have outstanding acquittals with DCJ.

Any applicants that were successful in round 3 of the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors grant program will have to show how their new proposed project is separate from their currently funded project.

The NSW Government will not award a funding arrangement to a non-government organisation with redress obligation launch (or to any of its related entities) if it has:

• declined to join the scheme, or
• not joined 6 months after it is told to join the scheme.

Types of projects funded under this grant

Eligible projects should fit 1 of the following 3 approaches:

1. Creation of a new program that fosters social connection for older people.
2. Enhancement and expansion of a successful program that fosters social connection and focuses on older people. For example, into a new geographical area or to target a new cohort/s (for example, CALD and/or Aboriginal). It should not duplicate or try to replace a similar local program that is already successful.
3. Local council grants that are available to local councils only.

Categories 1 and 2 will exclusively be open to not-for-profit community organisations only with local councils eligible to apply for category 3.

Priority groups

• Aboriginal people aged 50 years and over
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
• people living with disability, dementia, chronic disease or mental illness
• careers
• people in rural, regional and remote areas
• people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer or asexual (LGBTIQA+).

Organisations who represent harder to reach cohort groups are encouraged to apply. 

Expected participation

Each project requires a minimum number of new participants.

With the funding range from $20,000 to $40,000, the expected minimum number of new participants would range from 20 to 80.

This is based on an estimated costing of approximately $500 per person for the total grant value (for example, a $20,000 grant would be seeking the participation of at least 40 older people).

What you can't apply for

Projects that:

• do not address social connection for older people
• do not include activities for older people to socialise, in person where possible
• do not show local involvement and are not based on local needs
• do not extend participation beyond the applicant organisation’s immediate membership or clients
• need participants to pay more than a nominal amount to take part. Any costs should consider the benefits for each participant, and their ability to pay.
• include requests for retrospective funding for projects, programs and activities
• are for commercial purposes or benefit
• are fundraising events for the applicant organisation
• already receive NSW Government funding for the nominated activity.
• What the funds cannot be used for:
• wages and salaries
• conferences or workshops
• general equipment
• capital works
• transport costs
• purchase of a vehicle or associated costs
• non-essential costs
• retrospective costs
• interstate or overseas travel costs
• ongoing operational costs or activities and programs that are business as usual
• existing debt or budget deficits.

Example projects

• Nature walks or birdwatching tours for those with low mobility.
• A yarning circle for older Aboriginal people.
• Visits to older people who are housebound, with the help of a local community transport group.
• A ‘Men’s Shed’ or ‘Women’s Repair café’.
• Free community transport to social activities for older women with a health condition.
• A supper club program for local residents. Weekly cooking classes end with a completion dinner. Support to create ongoing supper clubs in their homes.
• A local book club or toastmasters-style forum. A local library provides access to e-books.