Now in its second year, the Inspire Grant is the largest ever given since the Foundation was established by St.George Bank in 1990. The hope is that it will enable programs of work that are game-changers for children who are experiencing disadvantage.
“With a strong focus on education, the Inspire Grant funds projects that take a period in a child’s life where they could be at risk of disengagement, and act as the critical point of intervention to develop their future prosperity,” said Vanessa Barry, head of St.George Foundation.
The recipient of the inaugural Inspire Grant in 2017 was MissingSchool, a charity that connects seriously ill children with their classrooms through the use of telepresence robots. The robots represent these students in two-way connection to their regular classrooms, teachers and peers.
Children can operate these robots in real time so they are empowered to participate in class and interact with their friends and teachers from their hospital bed or from home.
Barry says MissingSchool was selected as the inaugural recipient because it provided an alternative pathway to education for children previously excluded through disadvantage.
Prospective applicants can find information about organisational eligibility and project requirements here. Expressions of interest can be made via the website and are open until 16 March 2018.