2 May 2024, Cr Anna De Villiers, The Carisbrook Mercury

Published on 02 May 2024

The first Grant Writing Workshop took place on Monday, 22 April 2024. I was left with the overwhelming impression, after observing and witnessing the interaction between attendees, that you should be brave enough to dare to dream big. No dream is too big to pursue.

We did a short grant writing activity. The exchange of ideas, and the enthusiasm with which the most grandiose ideas were met, was inspiring.

This grant writing workshop illustrated and confirmed the value of networking and meeting with kindred spirits. Networking within this realm of community and non-profit initiatives demonstrate that it is essential to actively pursue opportunities to network, share ideas and resources. By engaging with other community and non-profit organisations, attendees discovered new perspectives and unlocked creative solutions to shared challenges.

The workshop emphasised that networking is not a passive endeavour but an active pursuit, requiring initiative, openness and a willingness to engage with others.

The legacy of the grant writing workshop will be that it created networking opportunities, serving as a catalyst for empowerment and inspiration. Attendees left with a sense of purpose and confidence, equipped with tools and insights needed to navigate the intricacies of grant writing and community engagement.

The power of networking should never be underestimated. In this dynamic exchange of ideas, we discovered that the collective wisdom of the community far exceeds the sum of its parts.

The Grant Writing Workshops, led by the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre, consist of five consecutive sessions, every Monday, from 10am to 12pm at the Community Hub, Burns Street, Maryborough – 6 May, 13 May and 20 May 2024 (please note the first two workshops have now past).

Other opportunities to network and participate in training will be advertised on an ongoing basis.

After the five consecutive workshops detailed above, the workshops will continue for the rest of the year, meeting every first Monday of the month at the Hub.

For more information please visit: www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/volunteering

Cr Anna De Villiers

Tullaroop Ward