All sponsorship recipients

The West Welcome Wagon’s is a pop-up op shop providing essentials to those doing it tough. Refugees, asylum seekers and those in need can access clothing, shoes, toiletries, homewares and kitchenware from the wagon when it pops up in their local area.  A new series of Community Reach Out Days, which have been funded by a community grant this year, take the service offering beyond the material and create opportunities for local service providers to connect with community members and share information about available resources.  There will be three Community Reach Out Days, help across Melton, Brimbank, and Wyndham LGAs. West Welcome Wagon have received funding for its Community Reach Out Days.

Altona Meadows Community Centre's, Green Thumb Girls' first harvest. A program for woman over 50, who are struggling with their physical and mental health, dealing with loss or loneliness or adjusting to an "empty nester" lifestyle.  Through spending time outdoors in the garden, participants will improve their physical and emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, foster a sense of accomplishment and enhance their social connections.

Adding a pollinator garden bed to the Lions Memorial Park Garden will attract insects like bees and butterflies, who carry pollen between plants and improve the biodiversity of the area. As part of this year’s Thriving Communities grants and sponsorship program, the Lions Club of Riddells Creek received a local community grant to add a new pollinator garden to the existing garden beds. The pollinator garden will sit alongside the sensory plant garden and indigenous plant garden. The pollinator garden will also capture storm water using a simple, water sensitive urban design. The stormwater will be used for irrigation to keep the garden green and lush all year around, without relying on precious drinking water supplies. The garden will be enjoyed by the local community, by pollinator insects and it will serve as an example of sustainable stormwater management practices that can be replicated throughout the community. The Lions Club of Riddell Creek is receiving funding for its Pollinator Garden project for the Lions Memorial Park.

A free, family-friendly Come and Try Rugby day at Henry Turner Memorial Reserve, introducing people of all ages and backgrounds to the sport in a safe, welcoming environment. Participants will take part in skills sessions led by FRUC coaches, mini-games, and family activities, with a focus on making rugby accessible to newcomers - in particular women, girls, and the diverse communities of Melbourne's western suburbs. The day will connect attendees with our club and introduce them to the values of our game — service, community, and the positive impact rugby has had on so many of our lives. The event celebrates Footscray as a place where sport brings people together across cultures and generations.

Weird Out West is a not-for-profit, community-driven music festival based in Footscray that celebrates adventurous, independent, and culturally diverse artists from Melbourne’s west and beyond. Run by local organisers and volunteers, the festival focuses on high-quality curation rather than commercial outcomes, bringing together emerging acts, cult favourites, First Nations artists, youth performers, and experimental projects in an inclusive outdoor setting. The event aims to activate public space, support local businesses, and showcase Footscray’s creative identity. By encouraging audiences to spend time in the area, before, during, and after performances. Weird Out West contributes to the local economy while strengthening community connections. As a not-for-profit initiative, any funding and revenue are reinvested into artist fees, production, accessibility, and future programming. The festival prioritises fair pay, diverse representation, and opportunities for local talent, including under 18 bands and grassroots performers. Weird Out West exists to provide a distinctive cultural experience that reflects the spirit, creativity, and DIY ethos of Melbourne’s western suburbs.

The Little Africa Night Market is a community-led event in Footscray that brings people together in a safe, welcoming, and family-friendly environment to celebrate African culture. The market focuses on supporting local African vendors, providing a platform to showcase their food, fashion, and small businesses while connecting with the wider community. Through vibrant stalls, cultural performances, and live entertainment, the event highlights the richness of African food and fashion while creating meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange. It encourages people from all backgrounds to come together, learn, and celebrate diversity in an inclusive space. Importantly, the Night Market contributes to promoting safety in the Footscray precinct by activating public spaces with positive, community-driven activity. Increased foot traffic, lighting, and engagement help create a lively atmosphere that enhances perceptions of safety, belonging, and community pride. Building on the success of previous Little Africa Night Markets, which attracted strong community participation and positive feedback, this project will continue to grow its impact by supporting more local vendors and expanding community engagement. The Little Africa Night Market contributes to a more inclusive, connected, and thriving Footscray community, leaving a lasting positive impact on both local businesses and residents.

The Community Bike Hub is a locally led social enterprise in Melbourne’s west that diverts bikes from landfill while promoting equitable access to sustainable transport. Through our Volunteer Program at Mills Close in Footscray, community volunteers refurbish donated bikes, learning practical skills and connecting with others while contributing to a circular economy. Refurbished bikes are then donated to refugees, asylum seekers, and people experiencing disadvantage, addressing a critical local need: safe, affordable transport to school, work and community activities. By providing access to bikes, the project enhances equity, mobility and participation in community life. Funding will directly support the Volunteer Program, enabling more bikes to be refurbished and distributed and allowing additional local volunteers to get involved. This project strengthens local communities and ensures people experiencing disadvantage in Melbourne’s west have access to sustainable, reliable transport.