Belmont Men’s Shed funding boosted by council amendment

THE City of Belmont has granted a reprieve to the Belmont Men’s Shed by giving it the same funding it received last year.

City officers had recommended reducing funding for the group from $55,000 to $38,800, which would have covered only the rent of its Robinson Avenue facility.

Councillors voted unanimously at last Tuesday’s meeting to keep the funding level at $55,000.

Belmont Men’s Shed chairman Brian Carey was delighted with the level of support.

“This does a number of things – it’s a challenge for us to increase our numbers across the wider community and to increase community engagement,” he said.

“We want to expand our involvement with the community and now we have got the funding to do that.”

The suggestion from City officers to slash its support was in line with a push for community groups in the region to achieve independent sustainability and look for alternative funding sources.

The men’s shed and the council will sign a memorandum of understanding over this year’s funding.