Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann has announced funding of up to $10,000 to the Ipswich Baptist Church, now known as Beacon Community Church, for the Extension of their Men’s Shed Building Project.

The Beacon Community Church will receive the funding under the Blair Stronger Communities Programme Round Two.

The Stronger Communities Programme (SCP) provides grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 to community organisations for small capital projects, which improve community participation and contribute to the vibrancy and viability of local communities. Grants must be matched by cash and/or in-kind funding from the organisation on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Mr Neumann said that supporting the application made by the Beacon Community Church was important for the local community.

“The Beacon Men’s Shed meets every Wednesday morning from 9 am until 12 noon, and provides a number of opportunities for locals, whether it be fixing furniture, taking on a craft project, or lending a hand to local community groups,” Mr Neumann said.

“More importantly, it gives men from all backgrounds a chance to catch up once a week for a chat and a cuppa, with great benefits for individual participants.

“With Brassall one of the fastest growing suburbs in Ipswich, demand to access the program has exploded, with their 6 by 6 metre shed no longer able to accommodate the up to 40 people wanting to use it every week. This funding will allow the Church to build a whole new shed and allow more people to participate in this great initiative.”

Mr Neumann said he is a member of Beacon Community. The work the Church does in our community can be felt right across Ipswich and the Somerset Region.

“The Beacon Community Church provides a substantial contribution to our community, with a variety of programs catering to seniors, youths, and disadvantaged people right across Ipswich. In addition, their Brassall Centre is used by a host of local organisations, and is an important fixture in the local area.”

Mr Neumann said that applications for funding under the Stronger Communities Programme are assessed by an independent panel of community members from the Ipswich and Somerset Region.

“I was pleased to lend my support to the independent community assessment panel’s positive recommendation to support Beacon Community Church’s application to ensure they can go ahead with this essential upgrade.”