Environment SA News

School and community environmental grants

Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges schools and communities can now apply for grants to help manage and learn about the local environment.

School and community environmental grants
Grants give schools and community groups the opportunity to undertake valuable environmental projects in their local area.

Community Environment Grants are open to community groups, small businesses, non-government organisations and individuals in the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges region.

Applicants can apply for up to $10,000 to fund projects that would promote the sustainable management of the region’s natural resources while helping to build skills, awareness and knowledge in the community.

School Environment Grants of up to $2,000 are available to preschools, and primary and high schools in the region for proposals that would support students to lead sustainability projects, or help them connect with nature, biodiversity and outdoor learning.

Free grant writing workshops are also available to schools and preschools to help them develop a strong application.

Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board Presiding Member Dr Felicity-ann Lewis said the grants give schools and community groups the opportunity to undertake valuable environmental projects in their local area.

“Last year the NRM board’s community grants funded 23 projects including an exciting trial of marine habitat seawall tiles at Inner Harbor, the recent Sustainable Living Festival at Gawler, a major clean-up at Christies Creek, and set-up of the new Two Wells Community Nursery,” she said.

“Schools and preschools benefited from the grants program too, with 58 awarded nearly $96,000 towards their projects. Findon High School used their grant to create a native sensory garden arbour, while Surrey Downs Primary School developed outdoor learning boxes to inspire new ways of learning in nature and St Raphael’s School at Parkside established a biodiversity frog pond and native garden.

“Each year, an exceptionally diverse range of projects receive funding. The grants support communities in maintaining our natural resources and we hope they enable and inspire people to protect the natural world around them.”

Applications for the 2019-20 Community Environment Grants close on Wednesday, 11 December 2019.

Applications for the 2019-20 School Environment Grants close on Friday, 28 February 2020.

For more information on the community and school grants call 8273 9100 or visit the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board website.

The Community Environment Grants and School Environment Grants are funded from the NRM Levy.