Nearly $60,000 in funding has been awarded to community organisations to help deliver a range of engaging activities for young people in the Moree Plains Shire.
Five local organisations are the first to receive a grant from the NSW Government under an innovative grants program to boost activities and opportunities for young people outside of school hours, including weekends and public holidays.
Mad Proppa Deadly Indigenous Corporation received $10,000 to help deliver workshops and performances at the upcoming Moree Block Party on Friday 25 October. Mad Proppa Deadly and Just Reinvest NSW will engage local artists to perform and local people to deliver workshops and youth activities during the event.
Youth Insearch received nearly $10,000 to deliver after-hours mental health peer support groups for up to 20 young people aged 14-20. The support groups will be delivered by a Youth Peer Support Worker with lived experience, together with a social worker. The support groups will be delivered for two hours, one evening a week, during each school term in 2025.
Toomelah GubuRa Foundation received $10,000 to run a touch football initiative. There will be two weekly touch football sessions at Toomelah Ewan McGrady Oval for young people aged 10-18. The initiative provides a safe, fun, and inclusive environment to promote physical activity, teamwork, and community engagement.
Mungindi Local Aboriginal Land Council received $5,000 to engage a local Aboriginal artist to create a mural with Aboriginal young people from the Mungindi community. The mural will represent connection to culture, country, community, Elders and family.
Chalky’s Boxing Gym received $25,000 to implement a ‘transportation blitz’, including support to purchase a van to transport young people to and from classes at the gym, and to transport aspiring young fighters to district, regional and state boxing events and development training days at other boxing gyms across the state. The program aims to help young people build a support network with peers and community leaders, build understanding and connection to culture, build practical life skills and a sense of purpose, and stay safe and off the streets late at night.
The grants program is still open. For more information on how to apply, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/moree-after-hours-activities-grants
Quotes attributable to NSW Premier Chris Minns: “We are supporting our young people in Moree and making the community safer. “By providing these activities, we will help prevent crime and give young people more opportunities to succeed.”
Quotes attributable to Moree Plain Shire Council Mayor Susannah Pearse:
“Thank you to NSW Premier Chris Minns and his team for their continued support and investment in the youth of our shire. “Improving the lives of our young people and the liveability of our region will take government, community and industry all working in partnership and with that I congratulate the grant recipients who have risen to that challenge. “The grants program is still open, and I encourage local businesses and community organisations of all types to look at what they can do, what programs they might be able to run, to be part of the solution.”