Yarra Council invests $1.3 million dollars in community projects as part of the 2025 Annual Grants program. 

Council has awarded a total of $1.3 million for 130 local projects and initiatives spanning housing, community development, youth programs, arts, sustainability, sport and much more. 
 
Yarra’s Annual Grants program provides funding for a wide range of projects and programs lead by local not-for-profit, grassroots community organisations and individuals.

Successful projects were selected based on a number of criteria, including the capacity to deliver outcomes aligned with Yarra’s Council Plan. There were 17 recipients who have not previously received a grant.

Mayor Stephen Jolly emphasised the importance of Council’s annual grants program in facilitating initiatives that are led by and for the local community.

“Many of Yarra’s grants support some of our most marginalised communities – whether that’s through helping people to get into stable accommodation, providing support for socially isolated people in our communities, or creating inclusive sports opportunities for people with a disability.”  
 
This year’s grant recipients include:  

• Second Chance Cycles – funding for community bike workshops that restore discarded and stolen bicycles to usable condition and teach participants valuable mechanical skills. 

• North Richmond Community Health – funding to support Cultural Catering, a social enterprise that provides culturally relevant catering services, and employment opportunities where public housing estate residents can learn valuable skills on the job.

• Collingwood City Football Club (CCFC) – funding for Collingwood Eagles Inclusive Football, which provides soccer skills training for young people and adults with intellectual or physical disabilities.

• Launch Housing Limited – funding for the Yarra Zero and Sustaining Tenancies Pilot Project, which employs a worker to help transition people who have been sleeping rough into social housing.

Yarra’s Annual Grants are part of its broader Community Grants program that totals more than $2 million each year.