Capel Council digs deep to help COVID-ravaged groups

Community groups and sporting clubs within the Shire of Capel will be relieved to have some of the financial burden from COVID-19 alleviated, after the council decided to fund a one-off community donation scheme. Shire president Michael Southwell pitched the plan at last week’s council meeting to provide a $50 per member boost to clubs and associations that had been hard hit. The scheme is anticipated to deliver about $150,000 assistance across all the groups. A recent community recovery and support survey conducted by the council found 33 per cent of sporting clubs and 20 per cent of community groups involved faced financial difficulties due to activities being ceased at the height of COVID-19 restrictions. Cr Southwell said the grants were the perfect way for the council to step up and provide one-off support to the groups in need. “As the tier of government closest to the grassroots of our communities, I feel it is our task in this time of crisis to dig deep and help all the organisations which make up the social fabric in our area,” he said. Cr Rosina Mogg said she was optimistic the stimulus would spread “hope and light” throughout the community. Ratepayers and residents of the shire usually expected the council to improve infrastructure and services to better equip the community for the future, Cr Southwell said, but instead the grants would help groups recover and re-boot activities. “In times of crisis, we should give back to ensure life can continue as close as possible to normal,” he said. Clubs and community groups can register for the grant via the Capel shire website (capel.wa.gov.au) before applications close on November 30.