Community grants kicking goals

Community grants helping to kick goals

Mark Kearns and Catherine Kearns

Mark Kearns was only 8-years-old when he first started playing for North Bankstown Soccer Club. Now, 57 years later, he’s still on board with more passion than ever, having been on the committee for 25 years.

We are a very community-based, family-friendly club and we want soccer to be for the whole community.

North Bankstown Soccer Club, an organisation whose mission is to ensure that everyone achieves their personal best, applied to be part of our Community Grants and Events Sponsorship Program this year. The program provides financial support to assist local community based organisations to develop and implement initiatives that enhance community well-being. The club was thrilled to receive a grant this year to fund a Football NSW program, 'Football4all'. It’s a unique program that provides inclusive playing opportunities in a safe and secure environment for people with disability. The club’s program will be focusing on kids from the ages of 4-14. “Receiving this grant means that we are able to get the program up and running. It will help the participants to improve their self-esteem and gain a sense of value and purpose – all the same things I get from being involved, but not everyone currently has the opportunity,” Mark says. This year, Council’s Community Grants and Events Sponsorship Program was able to fund 112 successful applications, which received full or partial funding totaling $487,301. We love being able to support our community and can’t wait to see all the programs from this year’s Community Grants and Events Sponsorship Program come to life. To learn more about the grants, visit cb.city/CommunityGrants2022

Want to learn more about community engagement sessions in your area? Visit cb.city/HaveYourSay

If you were Mayor for a day…

Many things cross the desk of Mayor Khal Asfour. But few stand out like the letters he received from the children who attended our first Children’s Summit in October.

“It wasn’t just the drawings and colour that made them stand out, it was the high level of thought and creativity in the ideas,” Mayor Asfour says. Almost 100 year five and six school students from across Canterbury-Bankstown took part in the Summit, a forum that offered them the chance to tell us what they love about our City and what they think could be improved. At the Summit they wrote letters directly to the Mayor, telling him what they would do if they were Mayor for a day. “I was glad to see how many of the writers love living in the area, like I do,” Mayor Asfour says. “On the other hand, many showed great concern for others – the homeless, families affected by suicide, people struggling financially – these are huge issues, and they want to engage with them. “For themselves, they asked for more parks and more activities. They want greater safety at night and better lighting – these are suggestions we will actively work on. “Finally, one thoughtful writer just asked me how I was doing!” he said, with a smile. “Reading these letters made me so excited about our youth. Our City must be a place they can be proud of and that offers what they need – not just for them, but for future generations.”

They mentioned our welcoming community, what a fun area this is and our great parks.

If you know a child aged 11-12 in Canterbury-Bankstown who would like their thoughts to be heard, they can let us know online at cb.city/ChildrensSummit

Summer fun for kids!

Are you getting that summer school holiday feeling? Keep your kids entertained with our FREE and low-cost activities! Kids can get active with sports days, surfing lessons and roller skating, or just hang out with their mates at Belmore Youth Resource Centre. They can join our libraries’ Summer Reading Club or go to two great library shows: ‘Patti the Pig: It’s Not All Rubbish’ and the Jeral Puppets’ version of ‘Treasure Island’. Discover all our great activities at cb.city/SchoolHolidays

Active Seniors shoot for the stars

It’s never too late to shoot for the stars!

Our Active Seniors Walking Basketball team are doing just that; they played into overtime and made it to the world stage at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. The team, comprising of 14 players, put on an impressive show with their 30-minute long display match in the ‘fan zone’ and attracted a crowd of enthusiastic basketball fans.

Ross Graham, 86, who represented Australia on the basketball court at the 1960 Rome Olympic qualifiers, said he’s incredibly proud of how far the team has come.

“Only three players had played basketball before… the others had never played, so I’ve been teaching them a bit about basketball,” Ross says. But what has stood out for Ross, are the tight knit friendships he’s made through coaching the team. The Active Seniors Walking Basketball team meet once a week during the school term at Bankstown Basketball Stadium.

Walking Basketball

It’s a bit of fun and after our games we go back to the Bankstown Trotting Club for coffee and a chat.

Anyone over the age of 55 is welcome, no matter their level of skill or experience. For more information and to register, call Council’s Active Ageing Officer on 9707 9000.

Celebrate Together Seniors Festival

1-19 February 2023

Get ready to celebrate Seniors Festival in spectacular style! Our beloved bus trips and sensational seniors’ concerts will be back this year, along with some exciting new activities for everyone to try. The program will be available online from January, or you can pick up a booklet at our Customer Service Centres, Library and Knowledge Centres and Leisure and Aquatic Centres. For more information contact Council’s Active Ageing Officer on 9707 9000.