The Community Sponsorship Program enables Council to work in partnership with our community to build a vibrant, connected, and liveable Hawkesbury.

The Community Sponsorship Program supports opportunities for Council to partner with our community and upholds the community vision as found in the Community Strategic Plan. Through this funding, Council harnesses the ideas, energy and knowledge of our community to plan and deliver programs and projects that support a connected, healthy, resilient and inclusive Hawkesbury.

Working together in partnership with the community to identify and respond to the needs within the community is one of the important responsibilities of Council.

There are three categories within the Community Sponsorship Program: Participation, Access to Facilities and Resilient Hawkesbury. There are two rounds of the Community Sponsorship Program each year.

Resilient Hawkesbury

Council may provide funding to community programs that help to build a connected, healthy, inclusive and resilient Hawkesbury. Maximum funding of $3,000.

Under the Resilient Hawkesbury category, the funding aims to:

• Encourage community groups to develop and implement projects, events or activities that occur in the Hawkesbury LGA that reflect the communities' priorities as outlined in the Community Strategic Plan
• Enable delivery of creative, recreational, social, environmental and cultural projects, events or activities that enrich the community
• Support community groups to respond to emerging challenges within the community and engage in capacity building activities
• Foster community partnerships and encourages cooperations between organisations to improve access to community services or skills for residents of the Hawkesbury
• Provide equipment for local organisations to increase their community services beyond their current capability
• Promote the Hawkesbury as a vibrant, diverse place to live and/or visit
• Encourage alignment with the principles of access, inclusion and equity

To be eligible for funding under the Resilient Hawkesbury category, applicants must be either a registered not-for-profit organisation, an incorporated community group or a registered charity.

All applicants must have an ABN. The applicant's details will be checked on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). The organisations annual revenue must be below $5 million based on ACNC data.

If an organisation is not required by the ACNC to have audited financial statements or an organisation has only been registered within the previous 12 months and an audited financial statement is not available, the following will need to be provided:

• Profit and Loss statement (certified by an accredited accountant)
• Organisational balance sheet (last 10 months)
• Provide evidence of appropriate insurance coverage.

It is not a requirement that organisations be located in the Hawkesbury LGA, but projects must demonstrate that the majority of project participants or beneficiaries are residents of the Hawkesbury LGA.

Organisations that do not have an ABN must have their activity auspiced by a not-for-profit organisation with an ABN that can manage the funding on its behalf.

Participation

Financial assistance may be provided to support the participation of residents who have been selected to represent the Hawkesbury in state, national, or international sporting, artistic, education and musical performance competitions.

Funding is available as follows:

• State competitions $150
• National competitions $250
• International competitions $500

To be eligible an applicant will be required as part of their application to provide the following:

• The name, date and location of the competition or event
• A letter from their coach or the organisers of the competition or event confirming their selection and confirming the amount paid for the competition or event
• If an applicant is under 18, their parent/guardian will need to counter-sign the application.
• If an applicant is under 18, consent must be given by their parent/guardian for the participants name to be published in the Council report. If consent is not given, the participants name will remain confidential.

Participation - Financial assistance will be provided to support the participation of residents who have been selected to represent their community in regional, national and international sporting competitions and cultural events. The level of contribution has been set at $150 for individuals and $750 for a team of five or more. To be eligible an applicant will be required as part of their application to provide the following: 

• the name, date and location of the competition or event 
• a letter from their coach or the organisers of the competition or event confirming their selection 
• if an applicant is under 16, their parent or guardian will need to counter-sign the application form

Access - Financial assistance will be provided to subsidise half (50%) of the cost of hiring a Council or community facility with a maximum Council contribution of $750. To be eligible an applicant must be a not for-profit community group located in the Hawkesbury or providing services to the Hawkesbury. As part of their application applicants will need to provide the following: 

• the name of the facility being hired 
• confirmation of their not-for-profit status 
• a copy of a current public liability insurance 
• a written quote for the cost of hiring the community facility

Resilient Hawkesbury - Council will support applicants under this sponsorship stream that meet the following eligibility criteria. 

• Incorporated Association or Registered Organisation with ABN
• Not for Profit or conducting a not-for-profit activity
• Public Liability Insurance Policy - $10 million or over
• Activity takes place in Hawkesbury LGA or benefits Hawkesbury residents
• Activity has no ongoing Council funding obligations in future years

(see full list in the Strategy guidelines)

• Address: 366 George Street, Windsor NSW 2756
• Phone: (02) 4560 4444
• Email: council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au