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What are the North Richmond Community Grants?
Since 2021, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, through the North Richmond Precinct Project, has invested $4 million into more than 40 community-identified projects.
Applicants are community groups, organisations and individuals who live, work, volunteer or access services in North Richmond.
What type of projects can be funded?
The grants program supports local projects, events and initiatives that benefit the local community and align with at least one of the key priorities of the North Richmond Precinct Community Action Plan:
- Safety, neighbourhood and amenity – To create a diverse community working together to create and maintain inclusive, safe and vibrant spaces for everyone.
- Health, wellbeing and community participation – To ensure everyone has access to services and opportunities to support health, wellbeing and connection to the community.
- Economic revitalisation and inclusion – To inspire economic activity by building on the community’s authentic cultural and economic diversity, as well as collective delivery of long-lasting and sustainable outcomes.
- Local jobs for local people – To break down barriers that job seekers face and encourage local employers to actively support local people.
Refer to the North Richmond Precinct Community Action Plan for more information about the community’s vision for North Richmond.
- North Richmond Precinct Community Action Plan 2022-24 (Word) Accessible
- North Richmond Precinct Community Action Plan 2022-24 (PDF)
When is the next grants round?
The next community grants round will open in late 2023.
What type of projects have previously received funding?
Past community projects have built community capacity and activated public spaces through service design, community programs, events and festivals.
2022 - 2023 grants program
Thirty-two community projects received a share of $1.1 million in funding through the 2022 – 2023 grants round. The 2022 – 2023 funded projects are due to be completed by 29 March 2024.
Summary of 2022-2023 projects
| Project | Project description | Applicant |
|---|---|---|
|
2023 Women's Enterprise and Community Projects (WECP) Incubate Program |
Small business mentoring and development program for women | Two Square Pegs |
| 2100 Media Productions | Record label based on the Richmond Estate will mentor 10 young musicians | Kon Deng (auspiced by Auspicious Arts Projects) |
| Arts for Richmond Community | Richmond Estate arts project | Belgium Ave Neighbourhood House (BANH) |
| Arts workshops for Aboriginal people who live, work, access services in North Richmond | Art workshops for local Aboriginal community members with completed art displayed in a public space. | BANH / Blak Pearl |
| Chinese Opera Training Class | Formation of an opera club for older people to enjoy and learn to perform traditional Chinese opera | Richmond Joy Choir (auspiced by BANH) |
| Community Dance and Connection (CDC) | African drumming and dance workshops facilitated by a social worker to discuss mental health and wellbeing | African Family Services |
| Community Haircut and Massage Project | Free haircuts and massages for disadvantaged North Richmond community members | Community Haircut and Massage Projects (auspiced by BANH) |
| Enriching North Richmond's Residents' Physical and Healthy Life | Traditional Chinese arts and culture activities to engage older members of the Chinese community | Yarra Ethnic Arts Exchange Association |
| Ethiopian and Eritrean catering | Local community events with traditional homecooked Ethiopian and Eritrean food | H&L Eritrean and Ethiopian Catering (auspiced by BANH) |
| Feed my Mind | Cooking program for adults with limited / no cooking skills. | Cultivating Community |
| Festival of Women Youth in Sport | A one-day festival as a vehicke to increase access to community sport, employment and health services for girls and women | Women in North Richmond Inc |
| Fostering Leadership and Active Participation through the Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club | Support for young people to play soccer at a club level; opportunities for young people to participate in the paid junior coaches program | Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club |
| Interpretive signage and launch of Aboriginal Gathering Space | Official launch, plus interpretive signage and educational materials to explain the cultural and spiritual significance of the Aboriginal Gathering Space to the wider community | BANH (in partnership with Wurundjeri Council and local Aboriginal Elders) |
| Healthy Minds Together | A community-led social enterprise to deliver culturally responsive mental health first aid (MHFA) training for 4 people to become MHFA instructors, with the aim of supporting participants to start culturally responsive MHFA businesses. | North Richmond Community Health |
| Life Hacks | Skills development for young people preparing for employment, further education, training and independent living | Young Assets Foundation |
| Mahjong competition, free community lecture | Events designed to increase connection within the local Chinese community | North Richmond Elderly Chinese Friendship Assoc Melbourne |
| Migrant Strengthening through Intergeneration Connection | Connecting young South Sudanese people with community elders, using traditional dance as a means of building and strengthening cross-generational connections and understanding. | Apuot Bol (auspiced by Mzuri Dance) |
| Murals and pigeon deterrents | Murals painted on the Richmond Housing Estate, plus industrial cleaning and installation of pigeon deterrents | BANH in partnership with Robbie Thorpe |
| North Richmond Markets | Provision of food relief at monthly Twilight Market, implementation of a Friday Caravan Market | BANH |
| North Richmond on the Grass: a Music and Community Festival | A one-day celebration of Somali, South Sudanese and East African music and culture | Village Festival of New Performance |
| Project One Lennox St Spring Markets | Two markets featuring street food, music, entertainment, workshops and stalls | Victoria Street Business Assoc |
| Referral & Support Workshop Program | Parent-focussed workshops, training and drop-in sessions to build educational and employment capacity and pathways | Carringbush |
| Richmond Self Defence & Boxing Program | Health and fitness program for young people living on Richmond Housing Estate. | NRCH |
| Roots and Rhythms: Embracing Diversity Through Art and Culture | School-based African dance and drumming workshops for children with complex vulnerabilities, to celebrate culture | Mzuri Dance |
| Teaching and Learning Traditional Chinese Peking Opera Project | Fortnightly classes traditional Chinese Peking Opera classes | Mei Lan Fang's Art Chinese Beijing Opera Friendship Association |
| The Seed Network Film Productions | Mentoring young people to build skills in digital film production | The Seed Network (auspiced by Youth Development Australia) |
| Thread Together North Richmond Shop | Employment of a Retail Development Officer responsible for operations and volunteer training at Thread Together charity store based at the Learning Bank | Yarra City Council |
| Trash to Treasure with @Ecopawsitive | Sewing project for older women to make and sell clothing and accessories for pets using recycled materials | Ecopawsitive |
| ATM Café | Takeaway coffee window at the Learning Bank's ATM Cafe that will provide barista training and employment for local community members | North Richmond Community Health |
Summary of completed 2021 – 2022 completed community projects
| Project | Description | Partner organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Community Referral and Support Service | A community-led referral and support service to assist Richmond Housing Estate residents to connect to local services and programs. | Carringbush Adult Education |
| Festival of Women | A one-day festival held on the Richmond Housing Estate to engage with and celebrate women from diverse backgrounds. | Belgium Ave Neighbourhood House (BANH) |
| Lennox Street Markets | Activating Lennox Street with a monthly twilight community market with entertainment, local produce, street food, lanterns and music. | Victoria St Business Association |
| Let’s Keep Cooking | A program co-designed with the local community to create food programs that celebrate the cultural diversity, talent and strength of Precinct residents. | Cultivating Community |
| Migrant Strengthening through Engagement and the Arts | Co-designed dance and community connections project, using the arts to champion change, strengthening connection for African Australian migrant families. | Mzuri Dance BANH |
| Moon Lantern Festival | An ambitious three-day arts and cultural event celebrating the diverse North Richmond community, featuring food, music, performance, dance, visual arts and a sideshow alley. | Village Festival of New Performance |
| Richmond Homework Club | Education support for young people in years 10-12 and university students under the age of 25, living in Richmond, with a focus on students from refugee, migrant and indigenous backgrounds. | BANH |
| Victoria Street Alive! | A program of arts and events to amplify the voices and achievements of the local community and to promote community cohesion and safety and to reinvigorate Victoria Street. | Victoria St Drug Solutions |
| Women’s Health, Economic and Inclusion Project | Three projects designed to promote wellness, build resilience and empower local women:
|
BANH |
| Intergenerational recreation space | A fun and useful playground for people of all ages |
Homes Victoria |
| Outdoor gym | A free outdoor gym facility to enhance physical fitness and community amenity of the Estate. |
Homes Victoria |
Resources
- North Richmond Precinct Community Action Plan 2022-24 (Word) Accessible
- North Richmond Precinct Community Action Plan 2022-24 (PDF)
- North Richmond Precinct Engagement team - engagenorthrichmond@dffh.vic.gov.au