The Sunshine Coast COCB is a voluntary run organisation that has developed a healthy relationship with the Sunshine Coast Council. Through this partnership the COCB has been successful for a number of years in acquiring grants to support small community-based organisations. The grant enables the COCB to contract a part-time Project Coordinator who sets up and runs workshops and administrative support to help with promotion, registration processes and maintaining communication with our network of organisations.
Our key funding source is the Council’s tri-annual “Partnership Grant Program” that enables us to deliver the following activities across the Sunshine Coast:
In person workshops
The COCB provides a minimum of three workshops per year that support small boards in governance and helps build resilience. These workshops bring board members together for interactive workshops that are not only educational, but also promote peer-support and collaboration between groups to promote a vibrant and healthy not-for-profit community sector on the Sunshine Coast.
The workshops are usually 3 hours or longer and held in various locations across the Sunshine Coast in accessible community-run venues. We can also tailor specific workshops in collaboration with you.
Online Discussion Forums
Not everyone is able to attend an in-person workshop so we hold regular on-line forums (usually after hours) to bring people together in an informal way to discuss topics of interest particularly to board members. On-line forums are kept to a maximum of 1.5 hours.
This support is usually on a fee-for-service basis and the Project coordinator can assist you with seeking funding for this purpose.
Board support to voluntary-run organisations
The COCB offers a range of supports to board members of voluntary run organisations, as we understand from our own experience that voluntary work takes commitment, energy and passion, and can be hard when problems emerge.
Our support ranges from organisational planning through to assisting with conflict management.This support is usually on a fee-for-service basis and the Project coordinator can assist you with seeking funding for this purpose.
Community consultation and advocacy
At the end of each year we hold a community consultation breakfast to seek ideas for new workshops, strategies for how we can better collaborate and an opportunity for networking.
This helps shape our calendar of events for the upcoming year. You can also contribute your ideas to us at any time via email
“On behalf of the Coolum Women’s Shed Management Committee I would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment that the Coalition of Community Boards has provided to community based organisations across the Sunshine Coast. The workshops and information sessions for new management committee members were particularly beneficial in providing valuable information and the opportunity to network with other organisations. As a not-for-profit organisation, there are limited opportunities to access free training for our management committee and members.“
– Deilia Murry President Coolum Women’s Shed –