Youth will have the chance to help design a project to support health and wellbeing in the local area after Bundaberg Regional Council successfully received a Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) grant.
The grant of $10,000 was awarded to Council through the FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants Program for the A Place for You project.
Council’s Community Development team, in collaboration with yourtown Bundaberg, will work with young people to plan, design, deliver and evaluate the A Place for You project.
Community Resilience and Connection portfolio spokesperson Cr Tracey McPhee said the FRRR grant would allow younger community members to come together to create inclusive projects that would enhance self-confidence and community unity.
She said the group would address mental health challenges and social isolation by training peer group facilitators to lead inclusive, youth-led projects.
“It is fantastic Council has secured this grant to help our next generation,” she said.
“By empowering peer group facilitators to lead inclusive, youth-driven projects, we’re not just addressing mental health challenges and social isolation – we’re building a supportive community where every young person can thrive and feel valued.
“Initiatives like this help to boost self-confidence and raise community cohesion, which is a powerful way to combat the isolation many young people face.
“It’s about creating spaces where every voice is heard and every individual feels connected.”
In announcing the funding, FRRR’s People Portfolio Lead Deb Samuels said many of the projects that received funding would be led by the young people that they are designed to benefit.
“Representation matters and valuing the lived experience and unique perspectives of young people is vital, so we’ve actively sought ways to involve more young people this year, plus we actively invited young people to apply for the grants,” Deb said.
“And it worked, as we saw a significant uptick in the number of applications for projects led by young people.
“After all, who better to know what’s going to work for other young people than their peers.”
Anyone interested in finding out more information about the A Place for You project can email Council’s Community Development team: comdev@bundaberg.qld.gov.au.
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