Mingara and our local community
Mingara’s vision is to make a significant contribution to the quality of community life. We strive to fulfil this vision through in-kind support in addition to the formal ClubGRANTS process. Over the last 10 years, Mingara has proudly contributed over $14.6 million in community grants to local charities, sporting groups and organisations.
Mingara’s 2021 ClubGRANT recipients
Autism Central Coast
Autism Central Coast was formed by a passionate group of educators and parents whom all reside on the NSW Central Coast. Their ultimate goal is to bring all services together in one location, thus enabling person centered programming. This allows the needs of every single individual and their families to be met on an individual person centered basis.
Camp Breakaway
Camp Breakaway has been on the Central Coast for over 35 years providing support to those with a disability. They provide camps and respite for individuals, families and their carers. These camps provide some much-needed rest for families, fun for participants and a safe environment for many individuals.
Cancer Council Central Coast
Cancer Council Central Coast connects with communities across the Central Coast by providing much needed support to those affected by cancer, advocating for change, engaging fundraisers, and helping people reduce their cancer risk.
Central Coast Community Care
Central Coast Community Care is a not-for-profit, charitable organisation providing residential aged care services to residents of the Central Coast with facilities at Killarney Vale and Lake Haven. Whether it’s access to a range of health and wellness services or a trip out on the bus, there is always something new for residents.
Central Coast Family Support Services
Central Coast Family Support Services was established in 1985 and is a not-for-profit community based service supporting families on the Central Coast of NSW. They have programs that aim to support a range of Central Coast families, including a Young Parents Program and Grandparent Raising Grandchildren Program.
Central Coast Kids in Need
Rhonda and Lorraine run Central Coast Kids In Need and are two of the most generous and caring ladies you can ever meet. Most families with very sick children have to travel to Sydney or Newcastle for long-term care, leaving at least one parent unable to work as they stay with their child in the hospital. Central Coast Kids in Need takes that massive financial burden away during these tough times by helping to pay for accommodation and fuel costs.
Creating Chances
Creating Chances provides internationally renowned best practice, evidence-based programs promoting positive youth development through sport. The programs aim to inspire, develop and empower young people to believe in themselves, contribute positively to society and create positive change in the world.
Fiam Inc Care Arm
Located at The Entrance, Fiam Inc Care Arm provides a variety of services that support our local community such as a church service, free food pantry, clothes charity boutique and New Beginnings Café.
In Life Turning Point Foundation
If you ever want to see a room full of community spirit and passion, then you need to join in for the hamper packing by In Life Turning Point Foundation. What started as a relatively small operation has grown into a full-scale operation that changes the lives of over 3000 people every Christmas. The wonderful Sandra & Paul coordinate the hamper packing with helpers from all over, it takes about 10 hours and 100 people to pack the hampers. It’s a great collaboration of community, our team love to get involved every year. One of the great things about Operation Christmas hamper is the support it provides to so many different community groups, once those hampers are packed it’s a full afternoon of charities and community groups picking up their hampers.
Berkeley Vale Probus Club
Probus provides local retirees with the opportunity to join together and progress healthy minds and active bodies through social interaction. Probus opens the door to new experiences and friendships, wonderful guest speakers, and a wide range of activities that allows you to explore your community. The Berkeley Vale Probus Club meets at Mingara on the 3rd Monday of each month at 9:30am for 10am start.
Lifeline Central Coast
Lifeline Central Coast offer additional services to their 24 hour crisis support line, such as counselling and community training. They focus on supporting the development and ongoing implementation of suicide prevention and community wellbeing programs on the Central Coast, while also looking for opportunities to grow Lifeline’s services in geographical areas where they do not currently exist.
Lions Club of Wyoming – East Gosford Centennial
Lions Club of Wyoming – East Gosford Centennial is made up of local community members dedicated to making a difference through an array of community-based programs and initiatives. They do a fantastic job in supporting local fundraisers.
Local Schools
Our schools foster our next generation. We are proud to support Tuggerah Lakes Secondary Campus, Tumbi Umbi High School , Wamberal Primary School , The Annex, TLK Youth College and Berkeley Vale High School P & C this year. The Annex at Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College – The Entrance Campus, works extremely hard to keep kids in school, working with some of our most vulnerable kids who require much more support than just education. Students can focus on studying life skills or a more mainstream pattern of study. The aim is to enhance the student’s vocational and employability skills. Mingara is proud to have worked with this school for many years. TLK Youth College is a small school with a very big heart. Similar to The Annex, TLK provides a great environment and family atmosphere for kids to finish their schooling in a setting that works for them. Mingara has been lucky enough to spend time with the kids at TLK. We look forward to watching this school develop.
Lutunda Children’s Services
Camps are some of the greatest childhood memories, but even more so for kids in out of home care. These camps provided by Lutunda Children’s Services give children in out of home care an opportunity to have fun, escape from their current reality and meet other kids who are in similar situations as themselves.
Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation
Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation set up The Glen in 1994. The Glen is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Chittaway. The work they do in transforming lives and creating a sense of trust and family is inspiring. The Glen doesn’t just believe in creating a sense of community within, but they constantly embrace that sense of community within our local area, from cleaning up the beautiful Tuggerah Lakes to cooking a Bunnings BBQ. The Glen is passionate about what they do and the change they can make. They are constantly driving change within their sector.
Ngura Indigenous Program
Ngura Indigenous Program was developed to help address issues that young Indigenous people face on a daily basis. These include cultural identity, education, employment opportunities, self-esteem and racism. The program aims to increase awareness of the importance of physical activity and health issues that affect Indigenous Australians. During the course the students cover topics including aboriginal life expectancy, nutrition, leadership and maintaining pride in their Aboriginality.
Rotary Clubs
Mingara entered a partnership with The Rotary Club of Gosford North about 8 years ago. They introduced Mingara to a program they were supporting – SOKS, Save our Kids from Suicide. Mingara supported the program wholeheartedly thinking if we could save just one life then it was worth every cent. The SOKS program is run through local high schools to give students and teachers the skills to identify someone who may be at risk of harming themselves. Since Mingara first partnered with the Rotary Club of Gosford North, 495 people have been assisted. We are pleased to also be supporting Rotary Club of Terrigal and The Entrance Rotary Club this year.
Salvation Army Central Coast
The Salvation Army Central Coast offer a range of programs to assist the vulnerable in our community including shower and laundry facilities. The Oasis Café gives jobs to local talented students who are completing vocational training in Kitchen Operations and Hospitality. The profits from this service helps the Salvation Army continue to support the local community.
Surf Life Saving Central Coast
Surf Life Saving Central Coast helps to keep Central Coast beaches safe. Lifesavers patrol beaches from September to April each year, spending 97,000 volunteer hours patrolling the 15 accessible beaches from The Lakes in the North to Umina in the South. Last year, their members performed 1,629 rescues with 22,416 preventative actions. Since 1938, SLSCC has rescued over 50,000 lives.
The Heartland Foundation
The Heartland Foundation’s purpose is to advance social and public welfare by helping families in the rural, regional and isolated communities. They help support many local community members with their food banks and bread delivery services.
The Trustee for Iris Foundation
The Iris Foundation works primarily on the Central Coast of New South Wales to help reduce the risk of suicide by facilitating and supporting awareness campaigns, programs and partnerships which enhance community connectedness and well-being. Current mental health research identifies several protective factors that reduce a person’s risk of suicide. Accordingly, Iris Foundation’s work in the Central Coast community focuses on three key factors that contribute to good mental health; resilience, hope and connections.
Top Blokes Foundation
Top Blokes Foundation provides a program for young teenage boys, being a teenager is hard these days, social media makes life as a teenager even harder. This program helps young boys who may not have a role model or support at home they need.
Working Age Stroke Group
Working Age Stroke Group (WAGS) is a fun loving support group for Stroke Survivors under the age of 67 and their carers and families. They meet at Mingara between 10am-noon on the first Saturday of every month (except long weekends). The Group also meets at other times for social outings to form friendships and support. The aim of WAGS is to raise awareness within the community while helping the stroke survivor, their carer and families gain information, encouragement, develop friendships and establish essential support networks.
Category 2 Beneficiaries
We are also proud to support numerous community and sporting groups. This diverse range of groups are always looking for new members, players and support people. If you’d like to get involved, simply visit one of the websites listed below to learn more. Australian Billiards & Snooker Council, Berkeley Vale Panthers Touch Football, Berkeley Vale Soccer Club Berkeley Vale Sports Club , Central Coast Academy of Sport , Central Coast Roosters, Country Rugby League , Donnica Clarke Foundation, Mingara Athletics Club , Mingara Indoor Bowling Club, Mingara Orchid Club , Mingara Killarney Netball Club , Mingara Rebels Baseball Club , Mingara Snooker & Billiards Club , Toowoon Bay Ocean Swim and Yellow & Navy Foundation – Mariners.
Find out more
To find out more about Mingara’s ClubGRANTS process, please contact Sarah Ferman, our Sports and Community Manager at [email protected]