Community support is required for your project to be successful. A Letter of Support is a letter written by a representative of a community organisation who are important in ensuring the project is a success (e.g. the key stakeholders). It shows that they consider the project to be important for the community, and that they are happy to be involved.
A Letter of Support should be included with your grant application to show that you have discussed your project with the people in community groups who are essential in ensuring the project is a success, and that you have their support.
What you should include?
A Letter of Support should include the following information:
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The name, position and/or organisation of the person writing the letter;
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The name of your project;
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Why the project is important for the community;
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What assistance or involvement will be provided by the person or organisation writing the letter (e.g. a community group might be able to provide volunteers to help out with your project, or a local sporting group could provide some office space, a local shop might be able to help you to promote your project, etc.); and
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Why they believe your organisation will be able to deliver the project successfully.
Example Letter of Support
8 February 2011
Community Grants Officer
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
PO Box 21
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Dear Sir/Madam,
Re: Happy and Lucky Garden Group ‐ Autumn Harvest Festival
It is my pleasure to write a letter of support for the Happy and Lucky Garden Group’s grant application submitted to the Melton City Council’s Community Grants Program.
This is an important project that will provide the residents of Melton an opportunity to learn how to grow, harvest, and prepare fresh fruit and vegetables with the help of the Happy and Lucky Garden Group at the garden’s Autumn Harvest Festival. It will be a fun event that will bring people together and provide a chance for everyone to share in the harvest, get involved in cooking sessions, learn about different vegetables, and hopefully inspire people to grow their own food at home.
Small Seeds Garden Supplies has provided the Happy and Lucky Garden Group with gardening supplies for over 3 years now, since the group’s establishment, and have observed the growing community interest in the garden and strengthening community connections of the group. Small Seeds Garden Supplies will be providing free packets of seeds and seedlings to give to Melton residents who come along on the day.
We are confident that the Autumn Festival will be delivered with the same diligence and enthusiasm with which the Happy and Lucky Garden Group successfully delivered the Kitchen Day in September 2010, where 50 local residents attended to learn how to cook 30 minute meals using freshly grown produce, and that this day will also be a great success!
In conclusion, we fully support the efforts of the Happy and Lucky Garden Group in seeking funding to support a program that will improve the health and wellbeing of Melton’s residents.
Yours faithfully,
Rose Vase
Manager, Small Seeds Garden Supplies