Deadline: 15-Jul-24
NSW Government is accepting applications for the Youth Opportunities Program that enable marginalised young people to lead and participate in community development activities.
Program Objectives
- The Youth Opportunities program provides one-off, time-limited grants for new projects that enable marginalised young people to lead and participate in their communities.
- The purpose of Program is to increase marginalised young people’s participation in activities that strengthen their connection and belonging to their communities.
- The Program supports organisations to empower marginalised young people to design and deliver community projects, enabling them to:
- overcome barriers to participating in the community
- build community based partnerships and networks
- feel a greater sense of belonging within their community
- feel empowered, as their ideas and opinions are respected, considered and acted upon
- gain relevant training to support their participation
- feel more confident within themselves and their abilities, having expanded their knowledge and skills
- be recognised for their efforts as volunteers having given their time to design and deliver community projects
- seek further opportunities to participate and stay engaged in their community.
- The Youth Opportunities program requires applicant organisations to have spoken with young people and involved them in developing the project proposal prior to submitting a grant application.
- Organisations must also involve young people at every stage of the project – from identifying the need and developing the project proposal through to design, project delivery and final review.
- This program is administered by Department of Communities and Justice.
Funding Information
- Grant amount: From $10,000 to $50,000
Timeframe
- The project should be started by 1 March 2025 and the project must be completed by 30 May 2026.
Eligible Projects
- Projects should focus on giving young people the opportunity to develop a range of skills, including:
- life skills and healthy behaviors
- leadership, communication and teamwork
- event management and planning
- volunteering opportunities that link young people to further education and training.
Outcomes
- Funded projects are expected to contribute towards the following outcomes:
- Project Outcomes (short-term)
- Increased participation in youth-led and youth-driven community activities indicated by
- the number of youth-led and youth-driven community projects funded per round,
- the number of marginalised youngpeople directly involved in the planning, design and delivery of the project as volunteers, and
- the number of volunteer hours spent on the planning, design and delivery of the project.
- Marginalised young people address and overcome barriers to participation indicated by
- the number of marginalised young people that attend and participate in events/activities as part of the project.
- Marginalised young people participate in activities that strengthen their connection to their local community indicated by
- the number of youth-led and youth-driven community events/activities held as part of the project.
- Marginalised young people learn a range of skills that strengthen their ability to participate in their local community and support future social and economic participation indicated by
- the numberof marginalised young people that undergo training (formal or informal) as part of the project.
- Marginalised young people’s contributions are recognised and valued indicated by
- the number of recognition activities and events that were held as part of the project.
- Increased participation in youth-led and youth-driven community activities indicated by
- Program Outcomes (medium-term)
- Marginalised young people feel a sense of choice and control (self-determination) in their lives indicated by
- the proportion of marginalised young people who report being involved in decision making throughout the project.
- Marginalised young people feel a sense of connection and belonging to their local communitiesindicated by
- the proportion of marginalised young people who report feeling a sense of belonging in the place and community where they live and
- the proportion of marginalised young people who plan to continue to volunteer within their community.
- Marginalised young people feel a sense of choice and control (self-determination) in their lives indicated by
- Project Outcomes (short-term)
Eligibility Criteria
- Under this Program, eligible organisations are:
- incorporated not-for-profit community organisations operating in NSW
- NSW Local Councils
- For the purposes of this program, organisations deemed to be ‘incorporated not-for-profit community organisations’ operating in NSW include:
- incorporated organisations that are registered and approved as not-for-profit bodies by NSW Fair Trading
- not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee, registered in NSW (it is preferred but not essential that the applicant organisation in this case holds a valid ACNC registration and/or DGR status)
- not-for-profit companies limited by shares, registered in NSW (must be non-dividend distributing)
- associations (registered under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 with NSW Fair Trading)
- cooperatives (registered under a relevant Act of Parliament)
- religious organisations (registered as one of the above or established under an Act of Parliament).
Ineligible
- Commonwealth or State Government agencies
- schools (including Parents and Citizens Associations), a university or TAFE college
- individuals or sole traders
- commercial for-profit organisations
- sub-contractors engaged to manage or deliver the project on behalf of non-eligible organisations
For more information, visit NSW Government.
