Purpose

The Annual Financial Assistance Program provides specific funding to nominated community events and programs that are conducted on an annual basis. The program also assists community owned halls through the provision of a rate subsidy and local schools through a Mayoral School Citizenship Award.

Eligibility

Only those organisations identified and nominated each year by Council are eligible to receive funding under this program. To be eligible for funding an organisation must:

Be a not for profit community organisation
Be an incorporated body or be auspiced (sponsored) by an incorporated body
Be a local Primary or Secondary School (Citizenship Award)
Provide significant benefit to the Wollondilly Local Government Area
Offer an annual event, project or service in the Wollondilly Local Government, and
Have no outstanding debts to Council

Events, programs and activities must demonstrate linkages to the Community Strategic Plan outcomes and strategies. Funding will be provided on the merit of the project, event or activity and its projected outcomes.

Annual Assistance Categories

Category	Description
Mayoral School Citizenship Award	To acknowledge good citizenship by students attending schools within the Wollondilly Local Government Area. All schools will receive $200 and a certificate for the successful student/s. Schools must provide recipient names for Mayoral School Citizenship Award Certificates.
Annual Community Event	To support significant community events held each year to celebrate various themes, occasions and celebrations.
Carols by Candlelight Event	To support annual community events held in each of the three Council Wards to celebrate Christmas.
Community owned hall Rates Subsidy	To provide financial relief to community owned halls to ensure they remain open to the general community.
Award or Scholarship	To support the recognition of high achievement by community members across a range of education, work and community activities.
Program Assistance	To provide assistance to significant community based organisations that benefit the local community.

Applications

There is no application process for this program. Eligible organisations under each category will be identified and recommended annually based on completion of successful event or activity in the previous year. Recommendations will be presented to Councillors at a workshop in April and then to full Council in May for approval and consideration in the next financial year’s budget. Council will consider funding allocations in line with its operational plan objectives and overall annual budget.

Assessment Criteria

Events, activities and programs will be assessed against the following criteria:

Eligibility for financial assistance program
Demonstrates clear linkages to Council’s Community Strategic Plan
Demonstrates a strong community development aspect that involves and benefits the broader community through participation or access
Reflects and enhances Wollondilly’s sense of place and local identity
Attracts broad or new participation from local residents
Uses an innovative approach to the proposed project
Can be completed in the financial year specified in the application
Can be achievable within the planned budget

Following assessment all eligible organisations are reviewed at a Councillor Workshop in April and then to full Council in May for approval and consideration in the next financial year’s budget.

Conditions of Annual Assistance

Recipients of Annual Assistance are required to undertake an acquittal process each year and provide Council with:

Information on how the financial assistance was spent
Membership / Participation rates
An evaluation of the event, activity or program
Copies of any promotional material and media material.
Copies of photographs of Mayor or Councillor involvement in the event or activity
Provide details of Council’s acknowledgement of support within the community

Funding will only be paid against a recipient created Tax Invoice inclusive of any GST by way of a direct deposit.

Recipients

Recipients are identified and recommended annually based on completion of successful event or activity in the previous year.

The annual assistance program is considered by Council each year as part of the annual budget process.

Council will consider funding allocations in line with its operational plan objectives and annual budget. Funding is provided on the merit of the activity and projected outcomes.

Funding will be paid to a nominated bank account inclusive of GST via EFT (Electronic Finds Transfer).

Aquittal

Recipients of Annual Assistance shall undertake an acquittal process each year and provide Council with:

Information on how the financial assistance was spent
Membership / Participation rates
An evaluation of the event or activity
Copies of any promotional material and media material.
Copies of photographs of Mayor or Councilor involvement in the event or activity
Provide details of Council’s acknowledgement