Best Start Supported Playgroups and Parent Group Initiative
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EmailThe Best Start Supported Playgroup/Parent Group Initiative is funded by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. The City of Casey brokerage funds to local agencies to implement Supported Playgroup/Parent Group’s for specific groups throughout the municipality.
For further assistance or information on Supported Playgroups in the City of Casey please contact City of Casey Customer Service on 9705 5200.
Grant Guidelines 2012
Up to $7,000
Applications
Applications close: Thursday 1 March 2012
Late applications will not be accepted.
Enquiries: Jodie Soutter
Supported Playgroup and Parent Group Liaison Officer
Phone: 9705 5200
Email: jsoutter@casey.vic.gov.au
Supported Playgroup and Parent Group Initiative (SPPI) Guidelines
Supported Playgroups and Parent Groups
Supported Playgroups and Parent Groups provide quality play and social opportunities to disadvantaged families who may experience difficulty accessing community playgroups/parent groups. Supported Playgroups and Parent Groups are run by a skilled facilitator who is able to offer families support, advice and linkages to other services. The facilitator assists children to develop language, motor and social skills by setting up stimulating play activities and by modelling positive parenting.
Aim
SPPI grants are available to non-government organisations to set up and run supported playgroups/parent groups which meet the following four objectives:
- Engage children and families from one or more of the four priority groups
- Strengthen parental confidence and community connectedness
- Provide play experiences which foster learning and development
- Appoint skilled, experienced facilitators who meet the needs of the groups
Priority Groups
The SPPI focuses on providing services to the following four priority groups:
- Indigenous children and their families or carers
- Culturally and linguistically diverse children and their families, with a particular focus on recently arrived families
- Children and families affected by disability
- Disadvantaged families with complex needs
Funding Eligibility
Applicants should be a constituted, not-for-profit, incorporated association. If you wish to apply for funding and are not an incorporated organisation, you can apply in partnership with an incorporated association who will act as an auspice or fund holder for the project. Primary schools and childcare providers are eligible.
The Supported Playgroup/Parent Group funding is to assist in the formation of new groups. If groups have already received the Supported Playgroup/Parent Group grant they are eligible to reapply for funding using the Re-application process. Please contact the Supported Playgroup Parent Group liaison Officer for further information.
Organisations with proven playgroup experience, and/or the capacity to work in partnership with others to deliver supported playgroups/parent groups in the City of Casey are encouraged to apply.
Organisations must be members or become members of Playgroups Victoria. .
Organisations are limited to one application per funding round.
To be eligible for the Supported Playgroup and Parent Group grant, at least 50% of families attending playgroup must be from one of the key target groups.
Available Funding
Grants are available up to the amount of $7,000.
Grants must be spent within a 12 month period.
Successful applicants can re-apply for funding in the years following their initial application using the SPPI Grant Re-application Form and having submitted the annual budget and final report in December prior to re-application as per funding guidelines.
Funding Use
The overriding intent of any grant application must be to facilitate a supported playgroup/parent group for families from one or more of the four priority groups.
Grants may be used to fund:
- Transportation
- Excursions
- Artist in residence – music, art, dance etc
- Venue hire
- Promotional material and activities
- Toys, equipment and other play resources
- Administration and operational costs
- Facilitator wages
- Co-facilitator wages, particularly where the role assists in engaging priority groups such as Aboriginal families and specific cultural groups.
Grants may not be used to fund:
- Items or programs that are the responsibility of other funding bodies
- Supported playgroups/parent groups which do not directly engage with any of the priority groups as listed in the application
- Capital or minor capital works
- Existing Playgroups. Current SPPI playgroups are eligible to reapply
The facilitator role is the cornerstone of the supported playgroup/parent group and is a vital driver towards successful outcomes for families.
Tasks the facilitator will undertake include:
- Engaging families and welcoming them into an emotionally and physically safe environment
- Planning and setting up the playgroup/parent group session
- Linking families to various support and universal services
- Planning and preparing families for transition by providing information and building parental skills and confidence
It is anticipated that the facilitator’s time will be costed within the application taking into account all the planning, playgroup session and reporting tasks.
This allows the facilitator time to:
- Plan and prepare for appropriate play experiences
- Lead the session
- Support families eg. accompany families to a community playgroup, phone contact, link families to support services
- Undertake administration eg. collecting data, reporting requirements, attendance at forums and meetings.
Criteria
Applicants will be required to:
- Demonstrate experience and/or the capacity to work with the priority group listed in their application
- Engage an appropriately skilled and/or experienced facilitator who is able to provide developmental play experiences and link families to support and universal services
- Work in partnership with other government and non-government agencies to provide a range of support services and information to families
- Reflect a commitment to the Supported Playgroup and Parent Group Initiative Strategic Framework Terms and Conditions of Supported Playgroup Grants
By accepting the funding grant, organisations are agreeing to the following terms and conditions:
- Complete on-going evaluation requirements within the stated timeframes in consultation with the Supported Playgroup and Parent Group Liaison Officer
- Provide an evaluation report by 14 December 2012
- Provide a detailed acquittal of funds report by 14 December 2012
- Include the Best Start and City of Casey logos on advertising and promotional material
- Advise the City of Casey of any changes to the supported playgroup/parent group program, including expenditure of funding, change of location, change of priority group, change of facilitator or change in timelines. The City of Casey must agree in writing to any changes before they are implemented
- Funding will only be used for the purposes stated in the application
- The project must commence by Monday 23 April 2012
- Any unspent funds must be returned to the City of Casey
- Maintain regular communication with the Supported Playgroup and Parent Group Liaison Officer
- Attend the SPPI Forums.
Dates
- There will be one funding round per year open between 1 February – 1 March 2012.
- Applications will be assessed by the SPPI Board on the week commencing 5 March 2012.
- Recommendations will go before Council in early April 2012.
- Applicants will be notified of the outcome in writing by 6 April 2012.
- Successful applicants will be expected to commence their supported playgroup/parent group by Monday 23 April 2012, unless otherwise agreed by the City of Casey.
Assessment Process
Applications will be assessed by the SPPI Board, which is made up of representatives from government and community organisations that have direct service provision or expertise with one of the priority groups. Board members will be elected through an Expression of Interest process prior to the opening of the SPPI funding round.
Assessment Criteria
All applications are assessed against the same criteria to ensure fairness and transparency.
Applications will be assessed against:
- The project description – Part B
- The activities outlined in the Program Plan – Part C
- The budget – Part D
- The evaluation requirements – Part E
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