10 October 2022
ActewAGL has a long-standing association with supporting local charities, not-for-profit and community organisations as a part of its Customer and Community Support focus.
ActewAGL’s Community Grants program continues to provide much-needed funding to projects that benefit and enrich the ACT and Capital Region community through four primary focus areas – environmental sustainability, at-risk and disadvantaged populations, community engagement and innovation.
The 2022 program received 43 applications, more than triple since its establishment in 2020.
Now in its third year, the program has delivered significant, direct funding to more than 50 local organisations, with the projects ranging from critical emergency relief and mental and physical health, to education and sustainable energy programs.
Rainbow Paws provides emergency pet boarding for people temporarily unable to care for their pets due to hospitalisation, homelessness or domestic violence. Rainbow Paws received an ActewAGL Community Grant during 2020 which enabled it to provide eight months of cat and dog boarding to assist members of the local Canberra community. Rainbow Paws has said pet owners find the ability to remain close to their pets in times of need, invaluable. This ActewAGL Community Grant made a meaningful difference to both Rainbow Paws and the members of the local community it supports.
Another local not-for-profit, 1RPH, is entirely volunteer-led community radio station. 1RPH used an ActewAGL Community Grant to complete an installation of solar panels during 2021, generating its own energy to help offset the cost of running its broadcasting equipment. The ActewAGL Community Grant helped 1RPH to reduce their spend on energy, helping to cover the costs of turning printed media into engaging radio shows for the blind and visually impaired.
“We are so proud to support organisations who are undertaking incredible work in our local community. This year we have awarded ActewAGL Community Grants to 20 organisations, our largest group since the program commenced,” says Rachael Turner, ActewAGL General Manager – Retail.
This year’s successful recipients included organisations providing activities for children with additional needs, a group providing assistance in developing inclusive communities for young women and ‘post-crisis’ peer support groups for violence, abuse or intimidation victims.
Carol Jennings, Director of WaterWombats, a 2022 ActewAGL Community Grant recipient, expanded on the impact of the grant funding on the work of WaterWombats, including its ability to achieve outcomes for vulnerable children and teens.
“Community consultation found a high level of dissatisfaction with services on offer for vulnerable children, with public pools adding the challenge of raised anxiety levels and sensory overload in the children. Additionally, COVID-19 and the closure of swimming schools caused drowning rates to increase substantially over the last 12 months.”
“ActewAGL's Community Grant has increased the WaterWombats programs' community reach, expanded the program, and allowed us to develop and pilot a new aquatic exercise program for children and teens with a disability.”
2022 Community Grant recipients include:
- Adamanexus
- Africa 2 Australia
- Barnardos – Queanbeyan Homework Club
- Belconnen Little Athletics
- Canberra Youth Theatre
- Care Financial Counselling (Care Inc)
- Early Morning Centre
- Fearless Women
- Giralang Garden Collective
- Spence Girl Guides
- Good Omen Goodeze
- Hundreds for Thousands
- Little Care
- National Film Academy
- RSL Woden
- Warehouse Circus
- Water Wombats
- Woden Community Service
- Women’s Legal Centre ACT
ActewAGL proudly supports a broad range of local community, industry partners and sustainability initiatives, providing charitable grants and supporting various other mutually beneficial community programs.
To learn more about these and other ActewAGL community and engagement programs, visit Community partnerships and support.