If our community is to thrive it is important to promote community connections.  Strong ties with family, friends, and the community provide people with happiness, security, support, and a sense of purpose. This connectedness builds resilience in people; resilience that can assist people in coping with a life crisis.

These connections matter especially for those who are vulnerable. Age, disability, chronic illness, ethnicity, and socio-economic conditions are all factors contributing to the social marginalisation of vulnerable people and community groups.

The current Covid-19 crisis has impacted people and communities in significant and varying ways. As we all spend more time in our homes, often cut off from friends, family, and colleagues, the lack of physical connection can become challenging. In these current circumstances, it is no surprise that many people are feeling increasingly worried, anxious, overwhelmed, and lonely.

At the Give Where You Live Foundation we recognise that community connection and engagement are truly needed at the best of time, but now more than ever to support our communities through these current challenging times.

With the support of AWA Alliance Bank, the Give Where You Live Foundation has granted 17 Community Connections grants today totaling $148,535 aiming to address:

• The reduction of social isolation of vulnerable community members to promote resilience
• Supporting social participation of vulnerable community members to promote resilience
• Assisting with social connection during the Covid-19 crisis
• Supporting community engagement activities to better understand the needs and challenges of the community during the Covid-19 crisis

The Foundation would also like to thank the Australian Communities Foundation who have generously co-funded 4 of these grants (Bluebird Foundation, Drummond Street Services, OneCare Geelong, and Wellways).

You can read about the Community Connections Grants by clicking here