The invaluable role grandparents and seniors play in improving communities across the State will be celebrated, with $200,000 available from the NSW Government for local organisations to hold 2018 Grandparents Day events.

Minister for Ageing Tanya Davies said NSW Grandparents Day, to be celebrated on October 28 this year, will have a particular focus on grandparents and seniors who offer their time and support to help raise grandchildren.

“More than 200,000 grandparents in our great State give almost 13 hours of unpaid, informal care for children each week and we don’t want this selfless service to go unnoticed.

“Selfless seniors in our communities deserve to be recognised, celebrated, and simply thanked for all the hard work they have done, and all the things they keep doing to make our communities better,” Mrs Davies said.

Three funding categories are available:

• Tier 1 Grants of up to $1,000 for small-scale local events or activities targeted at community organisations and schools,
• Tier 2 Grants from $1,001 to $5,000 for local community events,
• Tier 3 Grants from $5,001 to $10,000 for large-scale community events targeted at local councils in partnership with organisations and groups.

“Last year the NSW Government doubled the amount of funding available in the Grandparents Day grants program, which has meant organisations can deliver high quality events that reach more people,” Mrs Davies said.

Last year 82 organisations were successful in securing funding for NSW Grandparents Day events. Applications for the 2018 event grants close at midday on Friday 15 June 2018. To apply or for further criteria information visit www.grandparentsday.nsw.gov.au/grants.