$1.5 million in grants on offer in 2021 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant program

Early learning centres and services around Australia, along with their primary school counterparts, are now eligible for ‘a Bee Bonus’ as part of a broader $1.5million investment by Woolworths into the 2021 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant program.

Up to a thousand grants, each of $1,000, are being offered, to support services to grow a vegetable or bush tucker garden, composting, worm farm or for other environmental projects in their settings and communities, helping to educate the younger generation about the importance of the environment. 

The ‘Bee Bonus’ comes on top of the $1,000 grant, and offers services an extra $500 of extra funding to support the conservation of Australia’s bee population.

An estimated 15.6 million hectares of native Australian forest was destroyed in the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, resulting in a negative impact on the ability of honey bees to provide pollination services to Australian crops and horticulture.

With bees and pollination a crucial part of the horticultural and agricultural industry in Australia, early learning centres and schools can use the Bee Bonus in the development of native beehives, pollinator gardens or bee education programs. 

The Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants Program, Woolworths General Manager Community, Peter O’Sullivan said, is all about inspiring “Aussie environmental champions”. 

The Bee Bonus “puts the spotlight” on the impact honey bees and native bees have on our ecosystem, creating awareness and encouraging positive action.

“The grants help deliver programs that not only educate younger generations on how to be more environmentally conscious, but also get students hands-on and directly supporting the growth of a sustainable, greener future,” Mr O’Sullivan said. 

Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant projects focus on sustainable food production, improving waste management practices or enhancing native habitats such as vegetable gardens, recycling initiatives and native habitat enhancement and indigenous perspectives.

Implementing these initiatives early in life, Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish said, helps young Australians develop skills, share knowledge, create new experiences and foster connections with place and community. 

The investment is the largest number of Junior Landcare grants offered in one round to date. Since 2018, Woolworths has also contributed more than $1million to a total of 1,155 early learning centres and primary schools across Australia.  

Funding for the program is provided by purchases of the Woolworths Bag for Good™, an initiative that was launched in June 2018 when Woolworths removed single-use plastic shopping bags across all stores.

Applications for Woolworths’ Junior Landcare Grants opened 10 February. To find out more about the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants Program and to apply, see here.