Helen Haines has announced that $132,000 is available to support volunteer groups in Indi as part of the 2021 Volunteer Grants program.

The Independent Member for Indi is calling for eligible, not-for-profit community organisations in Indi to submit their expressions of interest before Monday April 19.

Volunteer Grants of $1,000 to $5,000 will help volunteers and volunteer groups to buy small equipment for volunteers, by reimbursing volunteer fuel, transport or training costs, or support promotional activities.

Last year, the volunteer grants funded 18 projects in Indi worth $63,000 including sporting clubs, CFAs, Landcare groups and health organisations.

Dr Haines said that volunteers were the backbone of the community through a hard 18 months.

“During the bushfires, whenever I visited a recovery centre in Corryong or Walwa or Wangaratta, I was always greeted by volunteers. None of those recovery efforts would have happened without thousands of volunteer hours committed.”

“Through the pandemic, volunteers came out of the woodwork whenever people needed a feed, or social interaction, or a hand in getting groceries or medicines. It’s great to be able to give something back to those volunteer organisations”.

In order to receive funding, organisations must have been nominated by their Federal Member of Parliament and meet the eligibility criteria.

Each Member is able to nominate organisations to apply for funding in their electorate. The Department of Social Services will then send an application form to nominated organisations to apply for funding in May 2021.

Successful applicants will be announced in November 2021.

To lodge an expression of interest, visit /resources/grants and submit a completed form by Monday April 19 by sending it to helen.haines.mp@aph.gov.au.