Deadline: 29 October 2019

The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) is inviting applications for its 2020 Back to School (BTS) Grant Program to help rural and remote children and young people access quality educational experiences.

The Back to School (BTS) initiative helps rural, regional and remote students to engage in learning and strengthen their educational outcomes.

Aim: Working through local community organisations, the FRRR Back to School (BTS) program is a positive and practical program that makes a real difference to the lives of students and families in need.

Objectives

The objectives of the Back to School program are:

• To improve access to education through enabling the purchase of items required to attend and engage in school;
• To help meet basic needs that assist children to reach their full potential, fit in with their peers, provide a helping hand and show that someone cares; and
• To build local connections and community resilience through local distribution networks and Community Foundations.

Priorities

FRRR considers all eligible applications on their merit. Applications are welcome from any eligible organisation, however applications will be considered against the following six criteria:

• Priority will be given to Community Foundations working in rural, regional and remote areas. Where there is no Community Foundation, FRRR is happy to accept applications from eligible community based organisations.
• There is a demonstrated need for the vouchers in the community / region.
• The voucher delivery mechanism is clearly planned, i.e. what measures will be used to determine need and how vouchers will be distributed.
• The program is supported by viable project management arrangements (both human and other resources required).
• The applicant is a financially sound organisation (audited financial statements to be provided). For organisations that have audited financials, attach the most recent annual audited statements. For organisations that do not have audited financials, attach most recent 12 months’ Income and Expenditure Statement. If applicant have a Balance Sheet, please also submit.
• The organisation’s overall objectives align with FRRR’s Back to School program objectives.

What is involved in the Back to School program?

Back to School vouchers:

• Are to be used by students and their families to purchase essential school items such as uniforms, clothing, shoes, school bags and school stationery items;
• Must not be used for the purchase of alcohol or tobacco, as rewards, raffle prizes, or to purchase goods for resale; and
• Must be treated as cash and cannot be replaced if lost.

Eligibility Criteria

• Community Foundations operating in rural, regional and remote Australia;
• Not-for-profit community-based organisations from communities across rural, regional and remote Australia;
• Organisations with an ABN or Incorporation Certificate;
• Organisations with and without DGR endorsement;
• An organisation is eligible to submit one application.

Eligible Project

It is important to note that applications will be considered ineligible if the:

• Final report/s from any FRRR grant program, including Back to School, from the previous seven years has not been acquitted (auspiced organisations should check with applicants head organisation to see if there are any outstanding final reports owed to FRRR);
• Application is submitted without required financial documentation;
• Application is submitted by an organisation that is not a legal entity, without the written consent of the governing / auspicing body who holds the ABN / Incorporation number (e.g. local branches, committees of management, non-legal partners);
• Application is not for charitable purposes, i.e. is for private benefit or is the core responsibility of Government;
• Application is to supplement an existing return to school voucher / welfare program which is already occurring;
• Application is from a community organisation in an area where an eligible Community Foundation already exists;
• The application form is incomplete.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply online via given website.

For more information, please visit https://www.frrr.org.au/grants/back-to-school