Grants

The Australian Indian Historical Society creates educational resources to share the rich history and contributions of Indian communities in Australia to help reduce racism and promote social cohesion. This grant will fund a book about the life of Siva Singh, an Indian immigrant to Benalla, focussing on his deep connections to the Benalla community and significant contribution to the rights of immigrants in Australia. The book will be distributed to local schools, libraries and community centres to foster learning and awareness of the multicultural history of our region.

In response to feedback from local young people seeking opportunities to socialise locally, Baddaginnie Community Inc will host a disco  for young people aged 10-16. The funds from this grant will help to fund a DJ, refreshments and  security for the event as well as the purchase of a first aid kit for the Baddaginnie Jubilee Hall.

The Benalla Homelessness Response Group was established to provide support for people in Benalla and district who are experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and crisis. This grant will contribute to training up to 50 community volunteers in Safe Talk Suicide Prevention and Accidental Counsellor programs. The training will build significant capacity within the Benalla community in an area of crucial need.

For many children, especially those who are hearing impaired or with ADHD, a noisy pool environment can be a difficult place to learn. SONR training headsets allow swim coaches to speak directly to individual swimmers while they are in the water via a radio transmitter. Benalla Swimming Club will use the grant funding to purchase a set of SONR training headsets to ensure all members have access to coaching that meets their individual needs.

The Beyond Books project supports students with resources that help them manage challenging feelings and life situations. Funding will go towards books selected by the school’s wellbeing team to suit different ages and needs. These books will be gifted to students and families across all three campuses.

With the increase in children attending three-year-old kinder, the need for high quality learning equipment is vital. This grant will fund the purchase of a range of new outdoor equipment to support the children’s gross motor skills and improve their physical wellbeing.

Life Play is a free community playgroup. It aims to provide a fun, friendly, relaxed and safe environment for children and families to gather and connect. The grants funds will be used to create an outdoor play space that includes a sandpit, grass and soft-fall area for climbing and jumping.

Outdoor play provides the opportunity for children to engage their senses. It supports imaginative play and builds children’s gross motor development. This grant will enable the preschool to build on and upgrade its range of outdoor play equipment to cater to the diverse learning needs of all children at the centre.

North East Multicultural Association (NEMA) is a pivotal advocate for multiculturalism within our region, supporting new and established migrant and refugee communities across five Local Government Areas, including Benalla. As part of national Children’s Week, NEMA will be hosting a range of engaging activities for kindergarten and early-school-aged children.

The Indigenous Garden Project will provide a culturally rich space for students to learn about Indigenous heritage, native plants, and environmental sustainability. The garden will feature a Welcome to Country area, native flora, and student-created Indigenous art pieces in collaboration with the school’s Visual Arts program. This initiative aims enhance student involvement in the local Indigenous community and strengthen connections with the Benalla Aboriginal Garden.

Tomorrow Today has been funding local community projects since 2003. You can download a summary of recipients from 2019-2024 below.