BHP’s Vital Resources Fund shows what can happen when you pay it forward
Community groups and businesses in Singleton are now able to apply for a share of $300,000 under the grants program by Singleton Council following the successful application to BHP Vital Resource Fund.
The Community Relief and Rebuild Fund and Business Relief Fund are initiatives of Singleton Shire under its Community Support Package to assist the community to deal with COVID-19 now and into the future.
Thanks to $200,000 injection by BHP, via the VRF, eligible community groups can now apply for support to assist and rebuild during the pandemic.
Mount Arthur Coal General Manager Adam Lancey acknowledged the important role community groups and businesses play in building vibrant and resilient communities and was proud that BHP could financially support groups through Singleton Council’s Community Relief and Rebuild Fund and Business Relief Fund.
“Local Community groups and business are the backbone of regional communities and supporting them to recover from crisis is the right thing to do,” Mr Lancey said.
“That’s why BHP Vital Resource Fund was established, to support regional Australian communities facing significant challenges as a result of COVID-19.”
The BHP VRF also has contributed $70,000 to the Ungooroo Health Services for Mental Health support. This support will see the employment of a Psychologist 3 days a week to serve Muswellbrook and Singleton communities.
While 95% of Ungooroo’s client base is Indigenous, the service is open to anyone in the community and the new Psychologist service will be bulked billed.
The funding was provided through BHP newly established Vital Resource Fund, which was established to support regional Australian communities facing significant challenges as a result of COVID-19.
C-Res plays a significant role in the role out of the VRF throughout BHP Minerals Australia as the facilitator and manager for payments of the grants to successful applications.