Big boost for WA arts, sport and community sectors seeking relief
The State Government, through Lotterywest, has provided the biggest agenda of grants — in number and value-making up more than $47.5 million in crucial funding to the Western Australian community.
- More than $47.5 million in grants will support WA community groups.
- Relief for community groups impacted by event cancellation during COVID-19.
- Latest grant rounds focused on support to arts, sport and community groups.
The latest round of grants as part of the $159 million COVID-19 Relief Fund resulted in Lotterywest receiving the same number of applications in a month that it would normally approve in a year.
Event Cancellation Relief and Resilient Organisation Support rounds resulted in 381 grants recommended, totalling up to $26.3 million. This means organisations and businesses experiencing financial hardship as a result of events cancelled due to COVID‑19 will receive much-needed relief and support.
Grant support will also help maintain staff, develop new ways of working and build resilience so they can continue delivering benefit for the Western Australian community during the state of emergency.
These grants are distributed by Lotterywest and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries to not-for-profit arts, sports and community organisations across the State.
Lotterywest is also set to provide a further $10 million to the department, assisting them to deliver specific COVID-19 relief programs for arts and sporting groups.
A further $5.2 million towards crisis and emergency relief has also been allocated to 23 not-for-profit organisations and local government authorities, bringing a total of $11.2 million allocated to 91 groups to support Western Australians most in need.
Development is now underway for Lotterywest's 2020-21 COVID-19 Relief Fund program for up to $100 million in grant funding.
All available profits from every jackpot, draw and ticket will go directly into the COVID-19 Relief Fund to assist the Western Australian community to recover.