The Medibank Community Fund (MCF) has awarded a $12,560 community grant to Pole Depot Community Centre in Penshurst, New South Wales.
The grant will allow Pole Depot Community Centre to connect vulnerable people in the Penshurst region with vital health and exercise programs that they would otherwise not be able to partake in.
Young children and their mothers; people with a disability; over 55's; people from Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and people either who don't have enough money to participate in group exercise, live on their own with limited social contact, or have limited understanding of the English language will all be accommodated through the project.
Medibank Retail State Manager for NSW, Dilan Perera said the program embraced the Medibank Community Fund's priorities of promoting healthy eating, physical activity and greater community connectedness -the key selection criteria for the MCF grants program.
"Medibank employees on our Regional Council from across NSW, expressed overwhelming support for Pole Depot Community Centre's application because their program brings people together in a socially inclusive environment where they can learn about their health and nutrition and make better lifestyle choices ", said Mr Perera.
"The Medibank Community Fund grants program supports local, grassroots initiatives that aim to create a lasting and positive impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of people in the community and Penrith Women's Health Centre and its healthy living program are doing just that".
Pole Depot Community Centre Community Development Worker, Ibtisam Hammoud said the program also aims to improve the health and wellbeing of 100 young children and their mothers living in the St George area.
"The program will provide holistic mental and spiritual health education, two weekly gentle exercise classes which cater to all physical and mental abilities and a weekly social group where participants can bond and encourage each other to look after their health", said Ms Hammoud.
"Transport will also be supplied for every participant attending our programs in order to increase access and encourage continued participation".
Pole Depot Community Centre is one of 42 recipients chosen from more than 900 applications across Australia and New Zealand to receive a 2014 Medibank Community Fund grant.