The following is an information summary designed to inform applicants about ClubGRANTS funding.

ClubGRANTS Funding

Background to ClubGRANTS Clubs NSW funding program.

ClubGRANTS was formerly called the CDSE Funding Scheme however the name was changed on 1^st September 2011 and along with the name change improvements were made to the scheme which are included in this summary. For complete information regarding ClubGRANTS please go to The Clubs NSW website www.clubsnsw.com.au

The ClubGRANTS Scheme is a shared State Government-Club Industry Program funded by 1.85% gaming receipt tax rebate provided by the State Government to those registered clubs with gaming machine profits in excess of profits in excess of $1,000,000 per annum. The funding is divided into three categories and distributed as follows: Category 1 receives 0.75%, category 2 receives 1.1% and category 3 receives 0.4%

The scheme is designed to ensure that larger registered clubs in NSW contribute to the provision of front-line services to their local communities; and to ensure that the disadvantaged in the community are better positioned to benefit from the substantial contributions made by those clubs.

Wollongong City council administer the program across the local government area. A committee is struck comprising representatives from Wollongong City Council, the not for profit sector, the State Government usually Community Services and representatives from the clubs themselves. An estimate of the total funds for distribution is provided which has been in the region of $600,000. Funding is provided by the following clubs across the Wollongong local government area however other clubs not listed may also provide funding.

• Berkeley Sports & Social Club
• Balgownie Collegian
• Bulli Workers Club
• City Diggers Club
• Collegians Rugby League Football Club
• Corrimal Leagues Club
• Corrimal RSL Memorial Club
• Dapto Bowling Club
• Dapto Citizens Bowling Club
• Dapto Leagues Club
• Fraternity Bowling & Recreation Club
• Helensburgh Worker’s Sports and Social Club
• Illawarra Steelers
• Illawarra Leagues Club
• Illawarra Master Builders Club
• Illawarra Yacht Club
• Towradgi Park Bowls and Recreation Club
• Port Kembla Leagues Club
• Wests Illawarra
• Windang Bowls Club
• Woonona Bulli RSL Club
• Wollongong RSL Bowling Club
• Woonona Bulli RSL Memorial Club

Why is ClubGRANTS a good source of funding?

There are relatively very few applications for funding compared to the pool of money available. Organisations who have applied in the past and been turned down are encouraged to reapply. If you would like to discuss a new application or receive feedback on a previous application contact Shaun Sheridan 42277725 or email ssheridan@wollongong.nsw.gov.au

Clarity: It is very important to be really clear with your application as the only understanding the committee or clubs have is the information you provide them. Advise what geographic area of the city will benefit, what population group and how many people will benefit; do not be vague, be specific.

Category I Funding

This involves expenditure on specific community welfare and social services, community development, community health services and employment assistance activities.

Eligible Category 1 expenditure is for projects and or services that contribute to the welfare of the broader social fabric of the local community and are aimed at improving the living standards of low income and disadvantaged people and veteran welfare services.

The following detail the types of expenditure funding.

Community Welfare and Social Services

• Family support.
• Supported emergency or low cost accommodation.
• Counselling services.
• Child care and child protection.
• Aged, disability or youth services.
• Services to victims of natural or other disasters.
• Volunteer emergency services, such as surf life-saving and rural fire services.
• Veteran’s welfare-welfare services
• Regional, national and international disasters.

Community Development

• Neighbourhood centre activities.
• Community education programs.
• Youth drop-in facilities.
• Community transport services.
• Tenants services.
• State-wide or regional services developing social policies and providing advocacy for local community services.

Community Health Services

• Early childhood health.
• Child and family services.
• Community Nursing.
• C0mmunity mental health services.
• Health promotion initiatives.
• Drug and alcohol services.
• Palliative care/women’s health/dental/disability services.
• Aboriginal and T0rres Strait Islander health services.
• Home and community care services.

Employment Assistance Activities

• Employment placement services.
• Group training.
• Employment advocacy
• Community enterprises.
• Local job creation schemes.

In addition to the general Category 1 funded activities Wollongong has developed local priorities which are listed below.

Priorities: – Wollongong has established local priorities for the LGA. There are as follows:

• Projects that have a ‘group’ benefit.
• Children’s Programs 0 – 11
• Programs for young people 12 – 24 years, especially those that assist unemployed or marginalised young people and those that live in areas with higher levels of disadvantage.
• Programs for the Aged
• Programs for People with  a Disability
• Multicultural Programs
• Education programs including prevention projects that have a positive impact on crime reduction strategies especially those linked to alcohol, gambling and related crime.
• Projects that have a wider community benefit/build capacity.

 These priorities support the usual ones of:

Delivered within the Wollongong LGA

In kind expenditure is allowed within defined financial limits. This is an issue that is managed by the clubs and not organisations seeking in kind support

Non Profit organisations can request clubs to provide In Kind support as opposed to giving money. An example of in kind support would be a club providing the venue and sandwiches/refreshments for a Beacon Foundation No Dole Event. The market value of this would be decided by the club example $2,500.

Treatment of In Kind Expenditure

Category 2 In Kind expenditure support provided to the community is acceptable provided that claims for such expenditure reflect the actual cost to the club, are properly documented and represent eligible expenditure as defined by these guidelines.

Funding in Excess of $10,000

A standard template contract must be completed. The contract form will be supplied by the funding club.

Wages: Projects with an ongoing wages component will not be funded.

Reporting and Acquittal Procedures for Funding Provided

Up to $500……Provide the club with a receipt only

$500-$5,000……Complete a Standard Funding Report Form

Over $5,000……Complete a Standard Funding Report form

Over $10,ooo……..Club and Benefiting Organisation are required to enter into a formal contract.

All reporting forms are available from download on the ClubsNSW ClubGRANTS website “For Applicants Section” www.clubsnsw.au/community/for-applicants

Applying for funding for Category 1 Funds

The local committee meets in January and at that time it decides when to open the funding round. This year the round opens 15^th February and closes 22^nd April. We advertise in local newspapers as well as direct contact with organisations across Wollongong LGA.

How the Category 1 Funding Decisions are made.

When the committee meets its members are provided a list of applications and these are individually discussed and placed into one of three prioritized categories. The first group comprises declined applications because they do not meet the qualifying criteria. Many of these are submitted by organisations outside the area, and if funded, would not benefit the local community. The second group are those which are discretionary funded by the clubs themselves. Most of these are surf lifesaving clubs and sporting club applications. The last group are those applications recommended for funding by the committee.

A further meeting is arranged approximately six weeks after the round closes and all clubs across the Wollongong LGA are invited to attend. At this meeting each of the recommended applications is discussed and clubs agree to fund all or part of a particular application. A club can agree to fund a portion of an application so in theory two or three clubs may join together to fund the whole application. Alternatively a club can agree to fund a portion of an application with the remainder left unfunded subject to the funding rules.

Category 2 Expenditure

Eligible Category 2 expenditure is expenditure allocated to community development, support activities and projects not listed under Category 1. However there are a number of specific funding allocations that are disallowed under Category 2 as follows:

•  Professional or semi-professional sporting bodies/persons when any of the expenditure is to be used to finance the professional or semi-professional sporting activity, or nonprofessional sporting expenditure that is used to make monetary payments to the sports persons or persons directly participating in the sporting activity. However this does not exclude funding for such items as coaching, equipment or uniforms for nonprofessional sporting bodies/persons.
• Professional entertainers and entertainment provided for club patrons and used for the purpose of directly promoting activities associated with the trading operations of the club.
• Expenditure on a club’s commercial activities or activities directly related to fulfilling its obligations under the legislative and licence requirements applying to its trading obligations for example Occupational Health and Safety.
• Capital and related expenditure on clubs facilities where the project is primarily commercial in nature or related to the upgrading or enhancement of gaming or when the facility or when the facility is operated on a for profit basis.

Capital Expenditure

Category 2 claims by clubs relating to capital expenditure to enhance non-gaming related club facilities can only be sourced from the balance of funds available after expenditure requirements for Category 1 have been fulfilled.

Tourism Promotion

Category 2 expenditure on the promotion of tourism is acceptable provided that the expenditure is not specifically targeted to promoting the club.

Application for Category 2 Funds

There is not a standard application form for Category 2 funding and applicants should liaise directly with individual clubs. Funding recipients are required to complete a report as to how the funding was applied the same way as Category 1 applicants. Applications are accepted throughout the year and details should be discussed with your local club manager.

Category 3 Expenditure

This is administered by the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing with funding decisions made by the Minister in consultation with ClubsNSW. Funding targets large scale projects associated with sport, health and community infrastructure

ClubsGRANT Online Funding Applications

Clubs New South Wales only accepts online funding applications and paper applications are no longer accepted. Paper applications will be accepted from organisations who are unable to use the online application process.

The following link enables you to register your organisation to make your online application at the following address : https://clubgrants-wollongong-city-council.smartygrants.com.au/2016category1