A drop-in centre in Elizabeth South helping people in need has been selected as one of the successful recipients in Council’s Community Development and Event Grants for 2022/23.

The Elizabeth South Community Centre received $2,495 from Council’s grants program to help fund a community fun day this September. This funding goes towards costs associated with the event, such as providing amenities, event infrastructure and catering.

Centre Manager Michelle Stevens said the event brings something fun to the community while also increasing the level of awareness about the centre.

“We are here because we believe in our neighbourhood and the opportunity to find a place of belonging,” she said.

“Our passion is not for just our space, it’s for the whole community and we really value what our community has to offer.

“We work with other organisations to help people who feel isolated to reconnect in the community.”

Next year marks a decade for the centre, a safe space offering support for those experiencing isolation and hardship.

An on-site café, completely run by volunteers, serves up meals for as little as three dollars. The nearby school also benefits from the centre and receives meal packages at lunchtime in the absence of a canteen.

The centre has a long legacy of social projects supported through Council grants. They were successful in 2021 and again in 2018, with Council funding going towards the community kitchen used by the café.

Council’s grant program offers financial support of up to $5000 to non-profit community organisations, local groups and associations for projects that contribute back to the community.

This includes activating community spaces, providing opportunities for people to get involved in their local community, encouraging arts and cultural development, and initiating locally based events or performances.

Other community projects funded through the program include a reintroduction program for native marsupials, a food festival celebrating authentic South Indian cuisines and a new website to connect to players at Munno Para City Soccer Club.

Mayor Glenn Docherty said the grants program continues to assist important social and environmental initiatives.

“We had some great projects submitted this year, all of which benefit our community in different ways,” Mayor Docherty said.

“Council understands the grants are a very important service to hardworking groups and we roll them out in two separate rounds each financial year to spread the opportunity around.”

Round 1 will open for applications this July. Information about the grants program can be found at playford.sa.gov.au/grantsandfunding

Other recipients of round two of Councils 2022/2023 Community Development and Event Grants include:

• Angle Vale Cricket Club.
• Kangaroo Rescue SA Inc.
• Munno Para City Soccer Club.
• Northern Adelaide Basketball Umpires Group.
• Playford Christmas Pageant.
• St Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church.