FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce has welcomed the opportunity for constituents in the New England Electorate to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to use for improving the health and wellbeing of young Australians.

Mr Joyce said the 2015 Commonwealth Bank Community Grants Program was an initiative of the bank’s Staff Community Fund which is Australia’s longest running workplace giving program.

Mr Joyce said groups or organisations wanting to be eligible to receive a Community Grant must run, manage, conduct or implement a program that supports children and youth up to the age of 21 years in Australia.

“You must also be endorsed with deductible gift recipient status by the Australian Tax Office,” he said.

“Organisations can find more information on the program, including eligibility criteria, a link to the application form, guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions by visiting www.commbank.com.au/grants before 27 February.”

Mr Joyce said the grants program could be just the answer many groups or organisations had been seeking while looking for important funding to support young people within their particular community.