The GreaterGood x Hands Across Canberra Connected Communities Grant Round is delighted to be supporting 17 local projects this year, each focused on strengthening social connection across our city. Together, these initiatives reflect a shared commitment to reducing isolation and creating opportunities for people – particularly those at greater risk of disconnection – to find belonging in their community.

About this grant round

From peer support for families navigating illness and early life challenges, to creative gatherings, outdoor experiences, and programs built around music, storytelling and shared activity, the funded projects show the many ways connection can take shape. Each one offers a simple but powerful outcome: bringing people together in ways that help Canberra remain a place where everyone feels seen, supported and included.

This grant round builds on work undertaken through the Not-for-Profit Collaborative Innovation Forum in December 2025, which explored how we can end loneliness in Canberra: https://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/publications/not-for-profit-collaborative-innovation-forum-ending-loneliness-in-canberra/

Powered by local generosity

This grant round is made possible thanks to the generosity of our many donors, whose gifts to Hands Across Canberra are driving local, practical responses to loneliness and social isolation. Their support allows community organisations across the ACT to trial new ideas, deepen existing programs and reach people who might otherwise miss out.

We are also deeply appreciative of our partnership with GreaterGood, which has funded 8 grants in this round through the Joan Wilson Memorial Fund. Joan wanted to make an impact in the community even after she passed away. Through her Will she set up a Memorial Fund with GreaterGood. This fund continues her legacy of care for community and this year it is supporting projects that help people feel more connected, valued and supported in their everyday lives.

Together, our donor community, GreaterGood and the Joan Wilson Memorial Fund are helping local organisations deliver programs that reduce loneliness, foster connection and strengthen the social fabric of our city.

A snapshot of funded projects

This year’s 17 funded initiatives include programs that:

• Support neurodiverse young people to build confidence and social skills through collaborative gaming and safe, facilitated peer spaces.
• Create family days, support circles and peer groups for children and adults living with serious illness, brain injury and brain cancer, along with their carers and loved ones.
• Offer intergenerational and gender-responsive programs – from young women’s social belonging activities to dementia-friendly art projects that connect older people and school students.
• Build connection through nature, movement and animals, including nature-based wellbeing gatherings, dog-walking programs, and inclusive aquatic sessions for children with disability and their families.
• Provide regular, low-barrier spaces where people can come together around shared interests – craft, music, storytelling, food and gentle exercise – to rebuild connection and confidence.

Opportunities to fund remaining projects

There are still a small number of highly impactful connection projects that remain unfunded, each seeking support of around $3,000 to get started. If you are interested in backing a connection initiative – for example, a program focused on youth, carers, older Canberrans, or people living with disability – we would love to talk with you about aligning your support with one of these proposals. Please contact Julia Lieser at julia@handsacrosscanberra.org.au to discuss opportunities or request a tailored list of unfunded projects.

Thank you

These projects are only possible because of the generosity and vision of our supporters. Their commitment to building a more connected, compassionate Canberra is helping local organisations create the kinds of spaces where people can show up, be themselves and know they are not alone.