Community projects and initiatives that address important social issues in the Mid North Coast will receive over $63,000 in funding from the latest round of grants announced by Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation at a funding ceremony held in Newcastle today.

The Mid North Coast projects include a Patient Transport Vehicle to connect patients in regional areas with the specialist medical treatment they need and the 'Breathe Better 2 project' to provide critical equipment and access to a fitness program for young people affected by cystic fibrosis.

This round of funding totalled $820,000 for 13 projects with impact across central, western, and northern NSW, and today's event was the first of two grant ceremonies in 2019. The grants presented today brought the total amount donated by the Charitable Foundation to more than $19 million for 460 important initiatives, since its inception in 2003.

The grants will be used to support projects that meet the Charitable Foundation's mission of helping people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or isolated and supporting social opportunity and development in our regional communities, including over $63,000 which will enable projects in the Mid North Coast.

The projects which will benefit the Mid North Coast community from this round are:

· CareFlight Limited - $128,000 to go towards a Patient Transport Vehicle to connect patients in regional areas with specialist medical treatment.

· Family Planning NSW - $50,000 to provide training to those delivering sexuality education to people with intellectual disability, improving decision-making and self-protection skills.

· Cystic Fibrosis Community Care - $74,000 to enable the Breathe Better 2 project to provide critical equipment and access to a suitable fitness program for young people affected by cystic fibrosis.

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Chair, Phil Neat said the Board when it considered the grant applications was impressed by the quality of projects funded in this funding round. 

"Today is all about acknowledging the power these projects have to make a real difference to the lives of people in need and providing our support to help the dedicated volunteers and staff who will make these projects really come to life," Phil said.

"Each of these grants represents a partnership and shared vision to address important social issues, using some innovative and resourceful projects from non-profit organisations in the Mid North Coast."

The projects that received funding today will kick off in the coming months and all projects are scheduled to be completed within two years, allowing the community to start reaping the benefits as soon as possible.

"Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation is proud to have provided more than $19 million in grants since 2003, including over $2.7 million in the Mid North Coast, helping to rewrite the future for disadvantaged, marginalised and isolated people in our community."

"On behalf of the Charitable Foundation Board, congratulations and thank you to all of the recipients for their hard work and dedication. It is truly inspiring to witness the passion within our community to help others who may be less fortunate," Phil concluded.