A sports playgroup for toddlers, a STEM school holiday program, a community volleyball initiative and a Pasifika community program are among the projects to receive funding from developer MAB.
The funding was provided by MAB as part of the Merrifield Community Partnerships Program.
Junior Active Kids Playgroup (JAK) founder Ashleigh Taylor-Kemp said she received an almost $10,000 grant which will help to kick off her new program in Merrifield.
“We are a sports playgroup designed for toddlers aged between 18 months to three years… [the funding] will help get this program off the ground and give it a running start,” she said.
Ms Taylor-Kemp said the funding has gone towards buying equipment, staff training, insurance and hiring out the room on a weekly basis.
“Because of this I am able to provide the playgroup completely free of charge … which removes a significant barrier to local families,” she said.
“Ideally I can utilise the funding from MAB, with a little guidance, to future-proof the playgroup and keep it free for families.”
“As a local Merrifield resident I can directly see the impact that this playgroup will have on the community.”
The other recipients in this year’s Merrifield Community Partnerships Program include STEM Catalyst, which will run a STEM holiday program for children aged five to 12, and Paperazzi Design Studio, which will deliver a 10-week senior art and craft program.
Additional grants were awarded to Seed Six for a community playgroup, a kids’ holiday program and a music, dance and storytime playgroup, Sal Sharma for the Merrifield Community Volleyball Initiative, the Multicultural Community Network Incorporated for a women’s wellbeing and active living program and Gaayip-Yagila Primary School for the Pasifika Community Connections project.
MAB said the grants support activities and events designed to build community connection and wellbeing in Merrifield, with individual grants ranging from $500 to $10,000.
Since the program began in 2017, almost $400,000 has been awarded through 56 individual Merrifield Community Partnerships Program grants.
