The Children’s Week Community Grants Program is a great opportunity to do something spectacular for your local community! The best events that we saw in 2024 featured strong partnerships and collaborations between community groups, including libraries, sports clubs and Local Government Authorities. Other great events followed 2024’s theme of “Children have the right to a clean and safe environment”.
If you’re looking for some inspiration on what you can achieve with your grant, check out some of our favourite activities from last year.
1. Colour Runs
Wheatbelt towns Wickepin and Mukinbudin both utilised the large open spaces of their local football ovals to hold colour runs, which helped children and adults to feel safe with other members of the community while being a bit silly!
2. Library Sleepover
The Shire of Broome Public Library held a massive sleepover with Big Ted that engaged both permanent and transient residents of the town. The Library used the event to educate children about local issues, especially around water and crocodile safety.
3. Education for Families
Rather than focusing on an event only for children, The People Place Busselton met a community need by hosting a first aid workshop for parents and carers. This valuable activity will continue to help families look after their children and provide a safe environment.
4. Book Launch
The Nintirri Centre in Tom Price and Paraburdoo used their Children’s Week grant to launch a book that teaches the children of the region how to keep safe. By working together with other local groups, Nintirri worked to ensure that this educational tool kit was made available for the children in their community.
5. Biodegradable Craft
Centacare Family Services used their connections with other community groups to hold a massive ‘Flower Craft Therapy’ event. Over 300 families attended this event, with Centacare hosting an activity that used biodegradable materials to create art and craft pots.
6. Mural Painting
Gascoyne Community Services brought people together to paint a mural at the Tom Price Youth Centre while teaching them about the importance of keeping Country healthy and clean for the future. The painting of this mural took place over a few weeks and will continue to brighten the community for years to come.
7. Working with Local Groups
Bullsbrook P&C taught children about their local environment by utilising and strengthening a partnership with another local organisation, “Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise”.
8. Special Effects Makeup Workshop
Children’s Week is always close to Halloween and so it was appropriate that the Collie Public Library guided their participants in applying makeup, latex, tissue and fake blood to give themselves – and each other – a variety of creepy injuries, from bruising to werewolf slashes. An out of the box idea that engaged the community’s teenagers!
9. Robotics Workshop
There was robot-making and robot-coding in The Shire of Wandering, with the Brixkz 4 Kids Robotics Workshop. This fun activity brought the children of the town together and helped to teach basic skills that are sure to be in demand in the future.
10. Disco Party!
The party was started in Bruce Rock, Brunswick Junction and Kondidin with each town holding a disco for their children. The police were in attendance at Bruce Rock and Kondidin for all the right reasons, promoting a positive attitude to the people serving our community, while Brunswick Junction went for a Halloween Dress Up theme.
We’re looking forward to supporting a new round of successful applicants in 2025. Head to the Grants page for more details on the funding that is available and to apply for a grant.
This Program is organised by the Meerilinga Children and Community Foundation Inc. (Meerilinga), who is the convener of Children’s Week in Western Australia and a representative on The Children’s Week Council of Australia. Find out more about Meerilinga here.