Municipal call for volunteers as Together CK program looks to shape local projects
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is asking residents to help decide which community projects receive municipal funding by joining the Together CK Review Committee. The program, which council established in 2000, has been used to support events and initiatives across the municipality and has leveraged more than $15 million in community development since it began.
Committee members will work alongside municipal staff to read and assess grant applications, score projects against established criteria and provide funding recommendations to council. The municipality says volunteers play an important role in ensuring funding decisions are fair and that supported projects deliver tangible benefits to residents in both urban centres like Chatham and the surrounding rural communities.
"supports community projects and events aimed at enhancing quality of life across Chatham-Kent."
Residents who want to serve must be at least 18 years old. Successful applicants will be appointed for the current term of council and should expect a seasonal workload, with an estimated commitment of about 30 hours each fall devoted to application review and committee meetings. Applications will be evaluated based on relevant experience, including volunteer involvement, committee participation and other skills that would support the committee’s work.
- Who can apply: Residents of Chatham-Kent aged 18 and older
- Commitment: Approximately 30 hours each fall for application review and meetings
- Appointment: For the current term of council
- Deadline: Applications must be submitted by Sept. 18
For many local community groups, the Together CK program has provided seed funding or top-up support that makes small events, neighbourhood projects and volunteer-led initiatives viable. Officials note the review committee is intended to bring community perspective to funding decisions that affect everything from downtown festivals to rural volunteer-run programs.
| Program detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Established | 2000 |
| Municipal investment leveraged | $15 million+ |
| Volunteer age requirement | 18+ |
| Estimated volunteer hours | ~30 hours each fall |
| Application deadline | Sept. 18 |
Local volunteers who have served on review committees in past years say the work is often more detailed than the public expects: reading project proposals, comparing planned outcomes with municipal priorities, and discussing how limited funds can be distributed across a wide geographic area. That process takes on particular significance in Chatham-Kent, where municipal dollars must be stretched to serve dense urban neighbourhoods and widely dispersed rural communities.
Municipal staff encourage applicants from a diverse cross-section of the community so that different perspectives — including those of long-time volunteers, people with experience on boards or committees, and residents familiar with grassroots programming — are represented when decisions are made. More information on the Together CK Grant Program, including application forms and selection criteria, is available on the municipality’s website.
With the Sept. 18 deadline approaching, municipal officials say they hope to assemble a committee that reflects the municipality’s mix of urban and rural needs and can help ensure residents across Chatham-Kent continue to benefit from local community investments.
