Armidale Regional Council is offering a free Community Grant Writing Workshop to help local groups turn their project ideas into successful funding applications.
The practical, hands-on workshop will be held on Thursday, 8 October, at NOVA, 122 Faulkner Street, Armidale, and is open to individuals, community groups, clubs and organisations across the Armidale region interested in sourcing and applying for grants.
Mayor Sam Coupland said the workshop would provide valuable skills and confidence to community members seeking funding opportunities.
“This hands-on workshop will give community organisations, volunteers and local leaders the tools and confidence to turn great project ideas into successful funding applications,” Mayor Coupland said.
“Council is keen to help great ideas get off the ground.”
The workshop will be delivered by Margot Davis from Unearthed Prosperity, an economic development practitioner, marketing specialist and place-making expert who has secured grants, tenders and project funding for organisations and communities across the country. (She also happens to be Mayor of Glen Innes Severn Council, so she knows how it works from both sides.)
Participants will learn the fundamentals of successful grant writing, including project planning, defining outcomes, preparing compelling applications and managing grants once funding has been secured, with a particular focus on identifying practical funding opportunities for rural and regional communities. Attendees will work through real-world examples and practical exercises, supported by templates and resources, and the workshop will also explore how artificial intelligence tools can assist with grant writing while maintaining an authentic community voice.
By the end of the session, participants will have developed a draft project summary, a stronger understanding of funder expectations, and practical strategies for reporting and grant acquittal requirements.
Mayor Coupland said grants support local projects that respond to specific community needs.
“Grants support local projects that respond to specific community needs, creating benefits that flow across the region.”
“I hope this workshop helps the people driving those projects secure funding and bring their ideas to life. It’s a win for all of us,” Mayor Coupland said.
The Community Grant Writing Workshop is delivered and funded by Armidale Regional Council, building on the success of similar workshops held in 2023 through the NSW Reconstruction Authority Community Recovery Program, and in 2024 and 2025 through council funding.
Registrations for the workshop are open now
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