Funding backs innovative ideas that support young people
Nine inspiring individuals have each been awarded a $50,000 grant to kickstart nine initiatives that will enhance the lives of young people in remote, rural and regional NSW.
The $450,000 program is thanks to Backing the Future funded by Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) and delivered in partnership with FRRR. To date, VFFF has granted $2,250,000 to support 45 people through the program to develop innovative ideas designed to have a lasting impact on people aged 12-30 in remote, rural and regional NSW and QLD.
The nine NSW projects will make meaningful change by empowering local young people to contribute to society, care for the environment, access decent work and explore Christian faith and values.
Grant recipient, Daniel Souza, will use his $50,000 grant to empower youth leaders in the Northern Rivers to design and innovate a regenerative agriculture hub. The project places emphasis on soil health, education and participant wellbeing.
“The Green For Youth project is the result of a desire to raise awareness on the negative impact of food waste and action a solution. Through years of collecting food waste and creating compost, we have cultivated an incredible network of forward-thinking partners. We look forward to involving them in this project.”
“I am incredibly grateful to VFFF and FRRR for this grant. It is wonderfully timely, as the Earth really needs clever environmental stewards who are empowered to directly impact the health of their local communities,” Daniel said.
VFFF CEO, Jenny Wheatley, said VFFF is thrilled to be able to support individuals who are motivated to make a difference in the lives of rural youth.
“All nine projects reflect the passion that the grantee has for their community and their drive to support the growth and enrichment of young people living in rural and regional NSW.
“For the young people of Lismore, for example, this means being active members in their community’s recovery journey by transforming public spaces through art, enhancing the spaces where people gather to connect, heal and play.
“Getting new ideas off the ground is tough, especially in remote, rural and regional communities. While these regions continually inspire us with their resilience and hope, factors such as population, the economy and access to resources, mean funding opportunities are often limited.
“The Backing the Future program is designed to support individuals who are passionate about being change agents in their communities and who are seeking to enrich the lives of young people with their innovative and much-needed ideas,” Jenny said.
This is the first NSW round delivered in partnership by VFFF and FRRR. This partnership leverages VFFF’s ability to fund individuals and FRRR’s extensive reach, ensuring VFFF’s funding reaches even the most remote parts of the state. Additionally, FRRR provides capacity building support to successful applicants to support the design and delivery of their new concepts.
FRRR’s CEO, Natalie Egleton, said that the Foundation has been inspired by the number of applications received.
“The response from NSW applicants backs what we already know – that there is a drive to support young people in rural NSW, and to encourage them to meaningfully connect with others, live purposefully and feel valued for their contributions.
“In addition to funding from VFFF, FRRR will help connect the grantees to explore opportunities for collaboration and provide mentoring support through their projects. We know that rural people are a resourceful bunch, and no matter what solutions they devise, we are sure to be inspired by their ability to overcome challenges by working together.
“FRRR is grateful to be part of the Backing the Future program and to support these local changemakers and the young people across remote, rural and regional NSW that are set to be empowered and inspired by these nine innovative ideas,” Ms Egleton said.
For the full list of grantees see https://vfff.org.au/backing-the-future-cohort-five/.
The next round of Backing the Future for NSW will open in mid June, with up to 10 grants of $50,000 available across RRR NSW. Interested applicants can visit https://vfff.org.au/backing-the-future/ or call 1800 170 020 and speak to FRRR’s Youth Futures Manager, Lauren Ryan.