Community services grants

Priority areas include digital inclusion, food security, social isolation, tenancy support, programs and services that strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and support to vulnerable community groups.

Funding supports projects that:

1. Connect people

   Build diverse, cohesive and connected communities:

   • increase participation of people who are at risk of isolation
   • increase trust, awareness and understanding between people and across communities
   • facilitate inclusion and equitable access to facilities, services, open spaces and community life
   • provide access to information and training.

2. Increase opportunity

   Reduce vulnerability and disadvantage:

   • facilitate access to education, training and employment opportunities
   • improve social and physical wellbeing through a prevention and early intervention approach
   • facilitate access to high quality, affordable housing
   • facilitate access to high quality, affordable child care
   • address financial and transport disadvantage.

3. Build community capacity

   Increase capability and coordination of community services and participation in decision making:

   • raise awareness about social sustainability in the community
   • strengthen governance and accountability in community organisations
   • improve collaboration and coordination of community support and services
   • encourage participation in civic and community activity
   • address emerging issues for vulnerable groups including food insecurity, digital inclusion, social isolation and housing

Applications can contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:

• increased participation in community and civic life and local decision making
• increased engagement in healthy, active living including mental health
• increased community capacity to address local needs/opportunities
• strengthened social cohesion, sense of belonging and connection to place
• reducing disadvantage and increasing access to opportunities.

Applications are assessed against the funding priorities and expected program outcomes. The assessment panel will also consider:

• clear demonstration of the community need to be addressed through the project
• evidence that supports the proposed approach to addressing the community need
• how the project supports an innovative approach to addressing a community need in a new way, or pilot/trial a new approach in offering a community service or project
• targets local residents, workers and/or visitors and is provided in the local area
• aligns with key City of Sydney strategic directions, particularly the social sustainability policy and action plan, inclusion (disability) action plan, community safety action plan and/or other related policies, plans and procedures
• inclusion of an appropriate performance measurement and evaluation methods
• a clear plan to develop the project, implement the budget and manage transition at the end of the funding period and ongoing financial sustainability (if required)
• evidence of a coordinated approach to project delivery
• project design considers existing services, resources or initiatives to enhance project delivery

For comprehensive information, including definitions and other details, refer to the grants and sponsorship program guidelines. 

To see what projects have been awarded our grants and sponsorships in the past, please search for grants in our statutory returns annual reports.