In 2025, the Give Where You Live Foundation awarded annual grants to 18 local organisations across our region.
This round of grants focused on addressing urgent needs across our priority areas of food security and homelessness assistance, supporting those most affected by the cost of living crisis. Applicants highlighted increasing need facing both community members and service providers, with 48% reporting the impact of rising living costs, and 41% pointing to the lack of affordable housing and growing homelessness.
In another great example of collaboration and community led impact, we recently visited Leisure Networks, who in conjunction with the Salvation Army in Colac and Wyld Works, provided an update on their Mini Movers From the Ground Up program. Recipients of a $10,000 annual grant in 2025, the funding supports connection and active participation opportunities with healthy eating education in a community garden.
The program, which was selected for funding because it takes a whole of community approach to strengthen understanding, and community connection, is a vibrant, inclusive, family friendly program.
Gretta Connell from Leisure Networks said, “We have identified a significant need for families in Colac to have a local, safe and inclusive place to come together. We’ve seen that the need in the community here directly correlates with increased food insecurity, and limits the ability of families to participate in paid physical activity. Through shared learning and active participation, our program combines increasing food literacy skills and physical activity that connects communities. It also helps to raise awareness of local resources for food assistance and empowers families to overcome food insecurity. We’ve loved seeing this program come to life in the Colac community.”
Funding has strengthened the program, enhancing its capacity to provide support to families in the Colac community. The Salvation Army Community Centre in Colac also serves as a welcoming community space where everyone is invited to share a cuppa and a chat, while Wyld Works provide the nature based activities that connect children and families with food growing to reduce social isolation and food insecurity.