It's National Carers Week and the ideal time to acknowledge the carers in our community for their significant contribution to they make.
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These selfless and outstanding people provide invaluable support, often 24 hours a day, seven days a week to their loved ones. In short, National Carers Week is all about saying thanks. It encourages us all to take a moment to thank our community members who care for others and reflect on how we can help a carer we know.
Carers provide unpaid help to someone who needs support due to disability, mental illness, dementia, chronic illness or frail age. This year businesses are urged to support carers in the workplace, through the new Carers + Employers program which supports employers to accommodate staff with caring responsibilities.
Remember, workplaces play an essential role in supporting carers. One in eight employees is an unpaid carer, which is a much larger group in our community than people might think. Flexible, carer-friendly workplaces help staff balance the caring responsibilities with paid employment and that's absolutely critical to ensure long-term support.
There are almost one million carers in NSW, who contribute countless hours of unpaid care each year. The NSW Government is investing $4.9 million in 2019-20 to support carers, and is developing the next NSW Carers Strategy 2020-2030 designed to improve the lives of carers. To have your say, visit www.facs.nsw.gov.au/inclusion/carers/nsw-carers-strategy.
Local Sport Grants Program
It's time to spread the word that applications opened this week for the NSW Government's $4.6 million Local Sport Grants Program. The Program, which is open until November 25, aims to increase regular and ongoing participation opportunities in sport and active recreation across the state. This is important because these contribute significantly to our health, economy, social well-being and the livability of our cities and communities.
Some of the aims of this year's Program include targeting opportunities specifically for women and girls; overall participation opportunities; and support for local communities effected by drought. There are a range of funding opportunities to consider, with maximum amounts set for sports development ($2000), community sport events ($5000), sports access ($5000) and facility development ($15,000).
The minimum amount available is $250 for all project types with the exception being for facility development which has a minimum request of $1000. The maximum available to any one organisation is $20,000 over a financial year. I would urge anyone who believe they have a viable project that fits the criteria to apply for funding under the Local Sport Grant Program because it might just make the difference in getting your project over the line.