More bang for your buck

The Aurora Group is delighted to announce the recent disbursement of almost $45,000 to GLBT community groups and projects as a result of a successful fundraising year.

Aurora continues its support of both Twenty10 GLBT Youth Support and the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service NSW (GLCS) as main beneficiaries, with disbursements of $15,000 and $10.000 respectively. This is a significant contribution to the ability of these groups to provide essential services to the community.

Meredith Turnbull, Executive Officer of Twenty10 said This donation continues a valuable relationship between Twenty10 and Aurora. It marks a very successful year of fundraising by Aurora, for which we congratulate them. I’ve very much enjoyed both the atmosphere and content of the Aurora events I’ve attended over the last 12 months. The generosity of Aurora donations continue to support our Groups Program, which runs in Hornsby, Neutral Bay and Newtown. These groups are built upon the belief that social networks and safe spaces for interaction are integral to the development of healthy relationships, independence and self-esteem for young people.

Following the third opportunity for other community groups to apply for small grants Aurora can now announce that almost $20,000 has been passed on to assist eight important community projects.

Six of these grants will benefit many young people across an area as wide as the Central Coast and Cessnock; to St George and Sutherland; to Blacktown, the Nepean and the Blue Mountains and into the ACT.

For example, Cessnock Youthlinx will use their small grant to kick start a peer social network, whilst the Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS) at Gosford will utilise an Aurora small grant to run youth focused social, support and educational activities on the Central Coast.

Phinn Borg, Manager of the Gender Centre, accepted a small grant and explained this money will go a long way into upgrading furniture for one of our refuge houses, the Gender Centre has been providing a range of services to the transgender community, their partners, families and friends since 1983. This residential program is a low support, medium term accommodation service for transgender people and people with gender issues who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Aurora will also support Queerscreen through My Queer Career Counsellor – a series of workshops and master classes by leading professionals in the Australian film and television industry for young and emerging queer filmmakers.

In announcing this round of support Alex Sosnov, the Aurora Group Chairperson, said.

We received a record number of applications for our last round of small grants, which highlighted great work and dedication in our community, but also highlighted the desperate need we have for more funds. So again this year, Aurora is busy planning some impressive events that will see us continue our successful year on year growth.

Aurora raises these much needed funds at its various events throughout the year, including the gala Aurora Annual Dinner to be held on 26 July this year and through its Giving Program. Members of the community can support Aurora and make a significant contribution by making a donation or by signing up to contribute a small amount each month to Aurora’s Giving Program. Donations are fully tax deductible and can be made online at www.auroragroup.com.au.

The Aurora Group directors and other volunteers all give their free time to raise funds for the GLBT community. By being a very hands on voluntary group Aurora is able to keep its cost of fundraising to a minimum, making sure most of the money raised goes back to the types of important organisations and groups such as those benefiting from this announcement.

Contact [email protected] to make a donation or for more information on giving.