Please take a look at what’s on offer and should you require any additional information or assistance, please contact my electorate office on (02) 63321300 or email bathurst@parliament.nsw.gov.au.

Community organisations can now apply for the next round of funding for local projects under the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program.

Infrastructure Grants support new or upgraded community facilities across sport and recreation, arts and culture and emergency preparedness.

I encourage local organisations to consider applying for a project that will help make a real difference to our local community.

These projects bring people together to enjoy new or improved sports, recreation, arts and cultural facilities, or help improve community safety in times of emergency.

This funding comes from the Club grants Category three program, which enables registered clubs to reinvest profits from gaming machine revenue to benefit local communities.

Funding ranges are $50,000 to $200,000 for arts and culture, $10,000 to $200,000 for emergency preparedness and $100,000 to $300,000 for sport and recreation.

Applications for the next round of Infrastructure Grants are open now until Monday, February 19.

For more information including details on how to apply for grants, visit www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/Pages/about-us/our-initiatives/infrastructuregrants.aspx.

The NSW Government has doubled the number of financial scholarships on offer for disadvantaged young people to stay in school and reach their education and training goals.

Worth $1000 a year, scholarship funds can be used for expenses like text books, course costs and computer equipment. Students are eligible to apply if they are:

• Living in social housing, on the NSW Housing Register, receiving private rental assistance or living in crisis or supported accommodation or out-of home care.

• Studying in year ten, 11 or 12 at a NSW high school or TAFE, undertaking a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship or studying a Vocational Education and Training (VET) subject at school in 2018.

• An Australian citizen or permanent resident. Scholarship recipients can get financial support for over seven years – from year ten until the completion of tertiary education.

Applications are open now and close at 5pm on Friday, February 23. To apply visit www.facs.nsw.gov.au/education.

The popular Public Reserves Management Fund (PRMF) program is open again with $17 million in funding available for the maintenance and improvement of Crown reserves.

Under the last round of funding, 440 projects were supported including local parks, community halls, regional show grounds and holiday parks – all vital to the social, cultural, sporting, economic and recreational life of communities across NSW.

Projects may include repairs and maintenance, pest and weed control, environmental facilities or new recreation facilities.

Projects need to demonstrate a genuine public benefit to the Crown reserves enjoyed by communities right across the Electorate.

Applications close Friday, March 9. Visit www.crownland.nsw.gov.au/crown_lands/crown_reserves/funding/PRMFP.