Minister for Ageing John Ajaka today announced that the 2016 NSW Seniors Week grants program had opened.

The NSW Government has allocated $200,000 seed funding for community groups, volunteer organisations and local councils to host events during the 2016 NSW Seniors Week festival.

The NSW Seniors Week festival which will be held from Friday, 1 April to Sunday, 10 April 2016is the largest festival for seniors in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 300,000 seniors participating in events across NSW each year.

Seniors Week grants support local councils, volunteer groups and community organisations with the costs of developing and hosting NSW Seniors Week events and activities in their local communities.

Mr Ajaka said that holding an event for NSW Seniors Week is a great way for local organisations to show their appreciation for seniors and encourage them to actively participate in their local community.

“NSW Seniors Week is a time when we recognise and celebrate our seniors and the great contributions they make to our community,” Mr Ajaka said.

There are two funding categories available in 2016:

• Grants of up to $1,000 to deliver local events or activities in their communities, and
• Grants from $1,001 to $5,000 for larger events which focus on this year’s theme.

The theme of the 2016 NSW Seniors Week is ‘Healthy Living’ and organisations are encouraged to hold events and activities that inform seniors about the importance of staying healthy and active.

Applications for the 2016 NSW Seniors Week grants program open on Monday, 27 July 2015and close at 5.00pm on Friday, 4 September 2015. Applications are to be submitted online atwww.nswseniorsweek.com.au.