2023 Local Coordinator Small Grant
The annual Local Coordinator small grants program offers funding to Local Coordinators of the Heart Foundation Walking program to implement initiatives to increase participation of existing groups or to set up new groups. 2023 grant recipients will each receive $2000 to target communities and populations who typically face more barriers to physical activity and poorer cardiovascular health outcomes. Congratulations to our 2023 Local Coordinator grant recipients.
North Richmond Community Health (Vic)
The North Richmond Community Health walking group comprises of approximately 10 men who have enjoyed walking together for two years. Participants are from marginalised backgrounds who are also facing mental health challenges. The funding will be well received to support the group with tools to support their walking (such as socks and water bottles) and purchase an occasional coffee or celebratory birthday cake. Social connections are highly valued for this group.
Connecting Community Services (Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre) (NSW)
Dubbo has a strong population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and a growing number of people coming from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Funding will be used to engage culturally diverse people with the Heart Foundation’s free personal walking plans and to increase awareness of self-monitoring health with other digital tools and resources. Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre will also offer monthly, friendly incentive competitions with prizes for members of the group.
Sale Neighbourhood House (Vic)
The grant will primarily be allocated to designing and purchasing safety vests and water bottles for walkers, incorporating the Heart Foundation and House branding. This not only serves as an incentive for participants, but also serves to boost awareness and emphasize safety during walks. The initiative aims to address the specific needs of the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community members, who predominantly come from the Philippines, India, Thailand, and Pakistan. By investing in these safety measures and promotional materials, SNH seeks to create a more inclusive and engaging environment for its walking groups.
Beacon Central Community Resource Centre (WA)
Beacon is a small town in the north-east wheatbelt in the Shire of Mt Marshall, approximately 320km north-east of Perth with a population of 123. The funding will be used to set up a walking group to increase the physical activity and social aspects of health and wellbeing, with a goal to boost regular walking, improving hearth health (monthly blood pressure checks provided), provide appropriate options for older people and promote safe environments for children walking to and from school. One activity will be to hire a bus to take older participants to Billiburning Rock (34km from Beacon) and other scenic reserves. Water bottles and hats and a healthy lunch will be provided.
NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (NSW)
The Moving Forward program is a collaborative initiative between STARTTS, and the Heart Foundation designed to promote a healthy lifestyle and overall well-being through a 10-week walking program to be delivered beginning in February 2024. The walking group will integrate psychoeducational discussions on healthy eating habits, stress management strategies, importance of regular exercise, and promote positive community integration.
The program will consist of 15-20 participants from Arabic-speaking communities residing in Fairfield LGA who have come as refugees and have gone through extensive and difficult refugee journeys. The program will provide a safe space for participants to build social connections and promote physical activity with a view to lifelong participation.
The $2,000 funding will cover costs involved in running the program in a trauma-informed and culturally appropriate manner. These will include translator fees, transport, catering, Heart Foundation Shirts for participants, in-language informational materials, and exercise mats/equipment.
Maroondah City Council (Vic)
Maroondah Council will work in partnership with the Eastern Burmese Ethnic Community (EBEC), to host a multicultural walking series, during March 2024. The focus of these walks will be to facilitate an Eastern Burmese walking group as a Heart Foundation regular walk.
In recent years, Council has been increasing its support for Maroondah’s newly arrived communities from Chin State and Karen State, Myanmar, who have fled persecution in their homeland. Council’s Physical Activity Strategy highlighted a need to develop actions to support the Myanmar (Burmese) community to be socially connected and physically active. The funding will be spent on promotion, digital media campaign featuring the EBEC walk linkage to Heart Foundation Walking Webpage, print advertisements and refreshments.
Gympie Regional Council (QLD)
The Heart Foundation Walking groups in the Gympie Region are supported by the Gympie Regional Council with a staff member as the Local Coordinator. Currently we have 4 walking groups in the Gympie Region. Our newest walking group has been established this year by Bravo a local disability support organisation.
Funding would be used to purchase a branded marquee and table to use to promote existing Walking groups and to promote the program in an additional five communities around Gympie.
St George Community Housing (NSW)
SGCH is proposing a 10-week walking group for adults of the social housing community at Marrickville. This group aims to improve balance, reduce social isolation, and increase community connection of participants. Our resident data suggests there are over 30% of Marrickville residents live alone and over 25% speak another language which can result in social isolation. Funding will be used to facilitate the walking group, provide healthy refreshments and provide water bottles and towels for 15 participants.
Prahran Place Neighbourhood Centre (VIC)
Prahran Place Neighbourhood Centre will use the funding to develop and disseminate a range of promotional materials for their current Walking group that better suits the needs of their diverse communities. Collateral will be in plain language, with translated options and in braille where necessary. The funding will also be used to promote a bring a friend campaign, as word of mouth is paramount to this group.
Trentwood Community House (VIC)
Trentwood Community House in Greythorn is part of the Greythorn Community Hub. February 2023, we started the Trentwood Morning Walkers. In 2024 we would like to investigate interest with the intention of starting a new group for our Mandarin speaking community. The grant will be used to engage an interpreter and facilitator to start a new walking group for Mandarin speaking parents. Funds will also go towards producing translated promotional materials and incentives for participants.
Active Geelong (VIC)
Active Geelong is a collaborative project that brings together leading businesses, doctors, researchers, and individuals to address physical activity in the Geelong region. As a current Host Organisation supporting over four GP based walking groups, Active Geelong seeks to implement the program in wider regional areas such as Horsham, Warrnambool and Ballarat, to target those with chronic conditions and disabilities. Funding will be used to cover regional travel and to purchase merchandise incentives.
Marrin Weejalis (NSW)
Located in Blackett NSW, Marrin Weejali is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in Western Sydney and nearby regions. The organisation has recently set up two Heart Foundation Walking groups to run alongside their ‘Too Deadly for Diabetes’ program – a 10-week program that aims to reduce/reverse diabetes and medication dependency through healthy lifestyle choices.
Funding will enable Marrin Weejali to purchase exercise equipment, towels and water bottles to support participation and encourage continued physical activity. Funds will also go to incentives to encourage continued participation.
Mental Health Association of Central Australia (NT)
A $2000 grant will support engagement of people with disability and the diverse multicultural populations of Alice Springs to attend accessible and inclusive walking events, with a view to setting up regular walks that can be walked as well as rolled. Funding will enable the creation of mapped out walking routes that cater for all ages and abilities.
The organisation will also hold a special multicultural walk that brings together the various cultures of Alice Springs to enjoy a walk and a celebration of culturally diverse foods. Heart health and blood pressure checks will also be available.
Newman Neighbourhood Centre (WA)
Newman Neighbourhood Centre seeks to utilise the grant to increase participation in the existing Heart Foundation Walking group, the Red Dirt Wanderers. The funding will be used to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, individuals with a disability and culturally diverse communities by creating culturally sensitive collateral, engaging in outreach to communities and purchasing incentives for participation.
Breathe Move Relax (VIC)
Funding will be used to start a pole walking group for people with Parkinson’s. This has been identified as a need within this population to boost confidence in walking and to also regain walking mechanics. Building confidence will help to reduce sedentary behaviours and reduce comorbidities that many have due to lack of movement.
The project will offer a 4-8 week walking group that will teach the use of poles and walking safely in the community. The aim would be to continue the group into an established Heart Foundation Walking group in the Hobson’s Bay area.