Last year’s bushfires are not forgotten. Community organisations wanting to undertake bushfire recovery projects can now apply for grants from the Vinnies NSW Community Bushfire Grants Program.

The grants come from donation money given to the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW’s Vinnies Bushfire Appeal.

The Bushfire Grants program will offer 115 grants of up to $20,000 to registered community organisations, to help them to administer their own local recovery projects. 

Vinnies chief executive Jack de Groot said these could take many forms, from infrastructure repairs to counselling and education programs and more.

“We are making sure the organisation’s promise to use every last dollar to support bushfire-affected communities is now being fulfilled,” he said.

“Our bushfire response so far has focused on supporting people on an individual level and have distributed assistance to more than 4,560 households across Australia.

“Now as we move towards longer-term recovery, in NSW we will focus on projects with community-wide benefit.

“We appreciate that the Black Summer bushfires affected each community differently, and local residents know their own needs better than anyone. 

“That’s why we are partnering with local organisations, as well as placing experienced workers in the hardest-hit communities so they can develop locally-tailored recovery projects.”

Applications will be accepted in two stages, with the first closing on 23 August. Interested organisations are invited to visit www.vinnies.org.au/bushfiregrants to find out more and apply.

For more information about the St Vincent de Paul Society’s work in bushfire relief and recovery across Australia, visit www.vinnies.org.au/bushfire