Youth Great Southern keen for more grant applications so it can continue supporting region’s young people

The application period for Youth Great Southern’s quick grants program has been extended until June 16.

It is the second year YGS has made grants of up to $20,000 available to organisations and groups in the region aiming to improve outcomes for young people.

Last year’s program resulted in more than $100,000 being contributed to projects addressing youth disadvantage, including ones that focused on education, work readiness and mental health.

One of the programs to receive support in 2022 was Albany Youth Support Association so that it could provide youth support services in Tambellup.

AYSA chief executive Ian Clarke said his organisation had been working with the Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup to establish youth programs.

He said the YGS funding had been a “lifeline” for a program that was difficult to attract funding for.

“It operates twice a week with the opening of a youth zone in Tambellup as well as a youth worker working with families and young people in that community,” he said.

“The support they’ve given is particularly important because those little communities often have very little services that are able to be supported because there isn’t necessarily huge numbers of young people.

“On average, we’d probably have 12 to 15 young people a day, but in the scheme of things that is quite big for a small community.”

To apply for a grant interested organisations are encouraged to contact YGS executive officer Jane Hare to discuss plans and receive an application pack.

Mr Clarke said the application process had been straightforward and was just a case of “following the bouncing ball in terms of what they’re asking”.

“It’s a local charitable organisation that can really support young people with all sorts of different pursuits — whether it be in sports, in music, in culture or all sorts,” he said.

“It comes down to people who are thinking about applying for something just need to reach out to one of the people listed as a contact and having a bit of chat and describing the program they’d like to run and what they’d like to do.

“We’re very, very lucky in the Great Southern to have an opportunity like this.”

Contact Ms Hare on 0418 418 639 to find out more or email info@youthgreatsouthern.com.au.