What is the purpose of the Community Grants Program?

The purpose of the grant program is to support community involvement and action to promote wellness. This program provides opportunity to foster and strengthen community partnerships.

The Community Grant Program will help members implement initiatives/projects related to the Coalition's priority areas outlined below:

• Healthy Living
  Healthy living is about people living in healthy ways and making positive choices about personal health practices. Healthy living focuses on prevention. It promotes overall well-being by helping people take action to improve their health in the areas of healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco control.

• Healthy Environments
  Healthy environments are about creating and maintaining environments which promote good public health. It involves those aspects of human health that are determined by physical, chemical and biological factors in the environments such as contaminants in food, air, soil and water

• Mental Health Promotion
  Mental health promotion is about promoting good mental health and well-being for all individuals and communities. It includes such things as creating supports in our communities, developing positive coping skills, building strong self-esteem and being able to use the resources available to us.

• Injury Prevention
  Injuries that happen as a result of accidents can often be prevented if safety measures are considered ahead of time. Many of the injuries from car, snowmobile or ATV accidents, poisonings, falls, fire or water-related incidents can be prevented or reduced.

• Child and Youth Development
  Infant and early childhood experiences influence health throughout life. It is important to support health and well-being from infancy through the teenage years in areas such as healthy pregnancy and birth, parenting and family support, early childhood learning and care, and community supports.

• Health Protection
  Health protection is about protecting communities and individuals from epidemics and communicable disease. It also prepares communities for natural or man-made disasters and public health emergencies.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant?

To be eligible to apply, a group must be:

• a member of the Eastern Regional Wellness Coalition
• a non-profit group interested in promoting the health and well-being of their community. A group is considered not-for-profit if it meets all the following conditions: it is organized and operates solely for not-for-profit purposes in the region and it does not make any of its income available for the personal benefit of any of its members
• be operating in the geographic boundary of the Coalition (from Port Blandford to Holyrood including the Bonavista and Burin Peninsulas, Placentia and Trinity Conception areas)
• in good standing with the Community Grant Program (if received a grant previously, all required reports must have been received)

What should your initiative or project involve?

• community partners
• engage members of the intended target population (e.g. project of the youth should have youth involved with the planning and project activities).
• part of an ongoing plan which addresses one or more priority areas.
• expected outcomes
• if there is a large food request it must be a part of an ongoing program (e.g. community garden, community kitchen, cooking skills program)

What expenses are not eligible for funding?

• Fund-raising drives, prize or contest money
• Salaries, honoraria or payment for guest speakers, conference fees
• Direct provision of health care services (e.g. individual or group services offered in kind through Eastern Health to community groups; client based services)
• Core operating expenses (e.g. utilities, rental fees, light, heat, routine office functions).
• Scholarships, bursaries
• Capital costs (e.g. computers, treadmills, furniture).
• Travel
• Activities considered outside best practices for health and safety (e.g. helmet sharing, food rewards).
• Infrastructure (e.g. trail development, play ground equipment).

What amount of funding is available?

Successful applicants will receive up to a maximum of $1000.00.

How will applicants be notified?

The Finance Sub-Committee of the Eastern Regional Wellness Coalition will review your application. All applicants will be notified in writing regarding the status of their grant application. Grant recipients will receive their cheques at the time of notification.

The Coalition's Finance Sub-Committee reserves the right to determine suitable uses of the grant funds.

When should we send our grant application?

There are two opportunities to apply for a community grant. Applications can be faxed or mailed and must be received by deadline date.

Applications received after the deadline date will not be considered. Coalition members are eligible for grant funding only once in a calendar year.

• March 1, 2011: Applications for first round of grants must be received.
• October 31, 2011: Final reports for March grants must be received.

• October 31, 2011: Applications for second round of grants must be received.
• March 1, 2012: Final reports for October grants must be received.

YES! All grant recipients must complete the final report that will be included with the grant cheques. This form must be submitted to the Coalition by the project completion date. Please note that copies of receipts must be provided and that any monies not spent as outlined in the project budget must be returned to the Coalition at the end of the project. The Coalition requires this information for accountability purposes. Failure to submit your final report will mean that your group will not be eligible for future grants through the Eastern Regional Wellness Coalition Grant Program.

Acknowledgement

Grant recipients are asked to acknowledge the contribution of the Eastern Regional Wellness Coalition as appropriate in their project, i.e. written materials, displays, media interviews, etc. The Coalition logo is available electronically upon request. How do you apply for a community grant?

Interested Coalition members must complete the grant application form. The completed form should be forwarded by mail or fax by deadline date to:

Additional copies of the Community Grant application can be downloaded from the Coalition's website at www.easternwellnesscoalition.com or call co-chairs for an application to be mailed to you.

Who can I talk to if I have questions about the application or about my group's project or initiative?

You can contact either one of the Coalition's Co-Chairs:

• Tammy Greening at 466-6316 or email: tammy.greening@easternhealth.ca
• Sherry Kennedy at 945-6531 or email: sherry.kennedy@easternhealth.ca