Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
Uniting – Firefly Bay & Basin is one of nine Uniting NSW / ACT Future Horizons community initiatives that aim to build a better world by focusing on communities and places with the greatest need. They bring together young people, parents and carers, schools, organisations, governments and residents to collaborate, find solutions and create lasting change for that community. Firefly works with, supports and advocates for young people in the Bay & Basin region of NSW, and collaborates with the broader community and local organisations for better outcomes and experiences for local youth.
Firefly partnered with Sanctuary Point Community Pride Inc to receive a $26,000 grant through FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures program to create the Youth Voice project for the Bay & Basin community. They drew on the invaluable expertise of Western Sydney University to develop a high quality, research-based program that resulted in four youth-led projects for the community.
The Youth Voice project acted as a vehicle to engage and empower young people to ‘Ask, Amplify & Act’. The grant money was allocated to increase the capacity of Firefly Bay & Basin by employing a Youth Practitioner at Firefly to collaborate with Beyond Empathy to deliver this project. This resulted in a number of projects being pitched to the community and each Youth Voice team engaged with community to create a network to co-design the implementation of the final four projects, which include:
- Repairing and revitalising the Malcolm Moore Reserve Basin View BMX track;
- Expansion of Vincentia High’s Breakfast Club to have more inclusive options and have made it available to students five days a week;
- A purpose built wall in Sanctuary Point for young people to have access to creative arts activities; and
- Providing community events and advocacy for families of people with autism spectrum disorder.
They received further funding from the NSW Premiers Department, Local Small Commitments Allocation to support the Youth Voice team in implementing these projects, which are due for completion by the end of this year.
The Firefly team has also developed the skills to be able to deliver the Youth Voice project in the high school again next year and will encourage more young people to be changemakers in their community. The capacity developed within the Firefly team has also resulted in them developing a partnership with Sanctuary Point Primary School, where they will delivered an adapted version of the Youth Voice project in terms 3 and 4, 2024.
Project organisers at Firefly and Sanctuary Point Community Pride Inc said that another significant change has been the increased collaboration between Sanctuary Point Community Pride, Firefly and other community organisations in the Bay & Basin region, who have enthusiastically supported the four Youth Voice projects.
“These relationships continue to strengthen and are ongoing. These projects have brought the community together. Firefly has strengthened its relationship with Vincentia High School and Sanctuary Point Community Pride will work closely with Firefly to continue to grow these connections.
“Firefly’s ability to offer a program that has provided young people with valuable skills and an opportunity to build confidence has created a deeper level of connection between the organisation, young people, their families and the wider community.”
