• Community-based organisations in Orange and surrounding areas have been awarded close to $11,000 in this year’s Charles Sturt University Community University Partnership Grants program
• A total of 10 organisations from the not-for-profit and school sector received funding
• Grants were to the value of up to $1,000

Close to $11,000 in funding has been bestowed upon community organisations and schools in the Orange region and surrounding areas under this year’s Charles Sturt University Community University Partnership (CUP) Program.

Ten community-based projects across communities such as Orange, Oberon, Parkes, Forbes and Stuart Town will benefit from the funding which goes towards a community-based initiative in any of the following areas: arts and culture, sports development, health and wellbeing, education development or environmental sustainability.  

Grants of up to $1,000 were awarded and were based on the capacity of the project to benefit the community and the likely impact of the project.

Charles Sturt Director of External Engagement in Orange and Bathurst Ms Julia Andrews was impressed with the diversity in grant applications in 2023.

“This year’s CUP grants program attracted a great variety of applications for worthy projects that will benefit our local communities,” Ms Andrews said.

“It’s great to see the popularity of this grants program growing each year with an increase of funding awarded in 2023 with close to $65,000 in grants going to organisations across Charles Sturt campus footprints.”

Housing Plus Domestic Violence Services Manager Ms Jenna Hattersley was grateful to receive a $1,000 grant under the Health and Wellbeing category, which will be allocated to The Orchard –Housing Plus’ women and children’s domestic violence centre.

“The Orchard provides a safe place for women and children in the community who are experiencing domestic violence,” Ms Hattersley said.

“We will use this funding to provide health and wellbeing activities for the women, including purchasing equipment such as yoga mats, and other exercise equipment such as dumbbells, kettlebells and gym balls.

“Exercise is so important for mental health, and we would love to provide these simple, yet powerful resources to the women escaping domestic violence in the community.”

Additional organisations which received funding within the Orange area and surrounding towns include:

• The Rotary Club of Orange
• Forbes Town and District Band
• Lachlan Arts Council
• Marathon Health
• Orange High School
• Orange Roundnet
• Orange United Sports Club x 2
• Parkes Early Childhood Centre Inc
• Stuart Town Public School

The next round of CUP grants will open in March and close in April 2024.

Grants of up to $1,000 are open to all schools, community organisations and individuals who reside in the Charles Sturt University campus locations of Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga and Wangaratta.

Interested community members are encouraged to visit the Charles Sturt website here to find out more about the program and to contact community@csu.edu.au with any questions.

Applications can be made via the 'Grants' page on the Charles Sturt website.

ENDS