Three local community organisations providing vital services to the Northern Beaches will continue to receive Council funding at existing levels over the next three years.

This week Council endorsed a recission motion to reverse a previous decision to alter the funding arrangement for Community Northern Beaches, The Burdekin Association and Northern Beaches Women Shelter.

In March, Council considered a motion to conduct a funding review of the social services sector. Council voted in support of the councillors’ proposal to decrease financial assistance incrementally over three years and redirect the funds towards a new Community Partnership Grants program.

Following the recission motion, Council has voted to continue its financial assistance for the local charities at current levels over the next three years.

Northern Beaches Council Interim CEO Louise Kerr said the continued funding would support the important work of these organisations and help those most vulnerable in the community.

“We are committed to supporting the social services sector and our continued funding will help them reach young people in need, people at risk of homelessness, and members of the community financial hardship or domestic and family violence,” Ms Kerr said.

“All three of these organisations do an incredible job supporting people in very challenging circumstances.

“We want to thank these organisations for their tireless efforts in supporting those most vulnerable in our community and for briefing Council on the vital services they provide.”

Each year Council currently provides more than $370,000 in funding to local social services organisations – $252,500 in direct financial assistance alongside an annual $120,000 in community grants. Most of this financial support is directed to Community Northern Beaches, Northern Beaches Women Shelter and The Burdekin Association (for Avalon Youth Hub).

Council also requested a report be prepared within the next six months, setting out the criteria for the grants program aligning priorities for funding with Council’s Better Together Social Sustainability Strategy.

Council will continue to support social service organisations, including existing funding recipients, to navigate future grant application processes.