Apply
Deadline: Apply by 9am Thursday 1st September, 2022
Questions? Email Georgia Mathews: grants@communityfoundation.org.au
2022 Covid-19 Surge Funding for WISE
Grant round in partnership with the Paul Ramsay Foundation
From 10 August 2022, one-off grants of up to $50,000 are available to support Work Integrated Social Enterprises (WISE) during a critical time as they attempt to reopen and support staff back into employment. These rapid grants are designed to be flexible and responsive to the immediate needs of social enterprise leaders in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory and in particular address the challenges faced by employees in the most highly impacted communities.
Work Integrated Social Enterprises (WISE) address social disadvantage by offering both support and employment opportunities whilst operating a trading model. PRF have a continued commitment to supporting people into employment and support those organisations which assist in breaking cycles of disadvantage. The extended impacts of COVID-19 have had a severe effect on both the financial wellbeing of organisations operating under trading restrictions and the mental wellbeing of employees who have been unable to work or access critical services.
Applications will open on 10th August 2022.
Eligible Services
You MUST be able to answer YES to all the following questions to apply.
- WISE based in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland or Northern Territory
- WISE’s primary purpose / focus is on providing employment and wellbeing support for those experiencing social disadvantage; particularly; Women, Socially-marginalised young people, First Nations People or Rural and Remote People / Australian communities.
- Are Aligned to PRF’s mission of breaking cycles of disadvantage.
- WISE is a charity registered with the ACNC.
Prioritisation
Funding available is limited. You do NOT need to meet all prioritisation points to apply.
Applications will be prioritised according to the pool of applicants and their needs, including:
- Positive COVID-19 cases of staff that have forced a closure or contributed to restricted activities (particularly repeat cases).
- Increased demand for wellbeing support from employees due to issues such as ill health, social isolation or lack of access to key amenities or services due to the pandemic.
- A decreased month on month trading turnover during the extended lockdown periods.
- A clear and viable plan to sustain activities through 2022/23 and support vulnerable employees.
- Work with highly impacted communities including: Women, First Nations People, socially-marginalised young people or Rural and Remote People / Australia Communities.
What can the funding be used for?
- SPECIALIST SUPPORTS: e.g. specialist counsellors or extra support staff to address the challenges faced by employees.
- STAFFING CAPACITY: e.g. surge increase in temporary staff and/or backfilling staffing due to shortages created by pandemic impacts.
- TRANSPORT: e.g. funding to facilitate the travel of vulnerable staff commuting to their place of work.
- SUPPORTING THE PAYMENT OF FIXED OVERHEADS OR VITAL RUNNING COSTS: e.g. rent, energy bills, supplier increased costs, etc.
- This funding CANNOT be used to ‘pilot’ a new program for work that would then rely on ongoing funding to operate.