All schools in the Blue Mountains and Macquarie are being encouraged to apply for grants of between $1,000 and $20,000 to fund small scale projects.

Member for Macquarie said $200,000 funding was up for grabs through the Local Schools Community Fund.

“The Local School Community Fund (LSCF) will provide up to $200,000 in grant funding in each Federal electorate in the 2019-20 financial year,” Ms Templeman said.

“The grant program is open to all schools – public, independent and Catholic - and can be used for projects such as small scale extensions, computer equipment and software, and playground and sporting equipment plus shade structures,” she said.

“Schools can use it for master-planning and air-conditioning, or for special facilities for students with a disability.

“Importantly, it can also be allocated to measures to target student wellbeing, and counselling or youth mental health support.”

“I don’t imagine there is a school anywhere in either the Hawkesbury or Blue Mountains that wouldn’t benefit from a funding boost and like most of the funding programs we do, I expect to get more applications than the money will stretch to.

“Schools are suffering from under-investment, and parents groups are carrying a heavy fundraising load, so while this is much less than a Labor Government would have invested in our schools, it’s not money that anyone will knock back.

“I have written to all schools in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury to encourage them to apply for a share in the $200,000 grant program,” Ms Templeman said. “I’d encourage P&Cs and P&Fs to speak with their Principal about the options.”

Applications close 5:00 pm on 30 September 2019. They will