RELATED: Big Give for central Victoria
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Excitement is growing about Bendigo’s first community giving day.
The Community Foundation for Central Victoria is hosting a workshop on May 25 about how community groups and sporting clubs can fundraise with Big Give.
People will be able to donate to causes registered on the Big Give website for 24 hours on September 1.
The more support an initiative garners, the more likely they are to receive bonuses from a $30,000 prize pool.
Community Foundation for Central Victoria executive officer Ann Lansberry said community groups were enthusiastic about the initiative’s potential.
“So far we have had expressions of interest from local footy and netball clubs, from schools, from parents and friends groups, from playgroups, from community organisations and arts collectives,” she said.
“It’s amazing the diversity of groups with great project ideas in our region.”
Bendigo Health Foundation, The Otis Foundation, Lifeline Central Victoria and Mallee, Women’s Health Loddon Mallee, Golden Square CFA, Haven Home Safe and Quality Living Options Bendigo have pre-registered.
Quality Living Options Bendigo is an association for parents and carers of adults with an intellectual disability.
President Noela Foreman said members were concerned about the lack of suitable housing in Bendigo for their children.
“So we have decided to get proactive and try to do something about it ourselves,” she said.
They are campaigning for $100,000 to create purpose-built accommodation.
The group aims to build mixed housing suitable for a range of abilities, from high needs to sharing with aged people or the general community.
Quality Living Options launched a GoFundMe campaign at the start of the year, which has raised more than $13,000.
But Dr Foreman was hopeful the Big Give would bring the project to a point where members could start taking action.
“It is quite a worry and the need is great,” she said.
“We want to know if we can organise something like this while we are still around to help our kids through the transition.”
Dr Foreman said many of the more than 50 members had cared for their children for 40 or 50 years.
“Most of us are in our 70s and coming into our 80s and are very worried about what is going to happen to our kids when we can no longer do it,” she said.
The Big Give workshop runs from 5.30pm until 6.30pm on May 25 at The Wellington in White Hills.
Ms Lansberry said people could register on Eventbrite or on Facebook.