This small grants program supports the recovery and wellbeing of children and young people living in regional NSW. Communities in areas that were declared flood and storm impacted in 2021 included in the Natural Disaster Declarations, with the Australian Government Reference Number (AGRN) 954 and 960 are also eligible to apply.
The program will help eligible applicants deliver projects to promote social inclusion and build community connections for regional children and youth aged 0-24 years.
The grant will remain open until 31 March 2023 or until funds are fully expended, whichever is sooner.
Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $500 to $10,000
- Application opened: 9 February 2022
- Application closes: 31 March 2023
Program objective
The objective of the program is to support the wellbeing of children and young people living in regional NSW and promote social inclusion and community connections. This program is funded by the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Strategy. This is one of three grants available under the Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative.
This program is administered by Department of Regional NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Funding recipients can be government or non-government organisations in eligible regional Local Government Areas (LGAs) such as:
- local councils
- community groups
- not-for-profit organisations
- Local Aboriginal Land Council
- schools
- neighbourhood centres.
Types of project funded under this grant
Programs that may be eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:
- community events and social activities
- sport and recreational programs
- youth mental health training
- cultural and community connection programs
- healing initiatives to support Aboriginal children, vulnerable children and young people affected by adverse events
- peer support programs, mentoring and training for children and young people
- digital communications and resources.
What you can't apply for
- costs associated with existing ongoing staff
- purchase of plant, equipment, laptops, mobile phones and other capital items. In exceptional cases, equipment essential to project delivery as part of larger projects may be approved by the administering agency
- requests for ongoing program funding
- projects and/or activities that are not related to wellbeing of young people and communities in regional areas impacted by adverse events
- requests to recover costs for existing debts and/or budget deficits.
What your application needs to include
Download the Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative, small grants for regional NSW program guidelines (PDF) (PDF 13.16MB) to check all eligibility requirements.
Prepare your application with this checklist
To be eligible, program funding recipients must
- hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN) or be registered with NSW Fair Trading under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009
- have or be able and willing to purchase at least $20 million in public liability insurance.
Address the eligibility criteria
Eligible programs must
- be delivered in a regional Local Government Area (LGAs) with a significant need for wellbeing and social inclusion activities that support recovery and resilience of children and young people
- focus on children and/or young people aged 0-24 years.
Refer to the program guidelines (PDF 13.16MB) for all other eligibility requirements including eligible and ineligible costs and programs.
Address the assessment criteria
Proposals will be assessed against the eligibility requirements and the following assessment criteria:
- delivers new or enhanced existing programs, activities or services
- coordinates and works together with existing services, does not duplicate existing services
- promotes community cohesion to improve community recovery from adverse events and resilience of children and young people
- supported by the community and meets community need
- focuses on vulnerable children and young people
- proposals can be delivered by the 30 June 2023
- inclusive and accessible for children and young people with a disability, LGBTIQ+ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Proposals will be assessed by the Department of Regional NSW to determine if they meet all the funding criteria. Once the assessment has been completed, the list of recommended projects will be provided to the Deputy Director, Office for Regional Youth for review and final approval.
Start the application
Applications for this grant are available via the SmartyGrants portal.
After the application is submitted
Assessment and approval process
A funding deed and milestones will be created, within program requirements. If successful, you will be advised of this information.
Support and contact
Getting support
For more information, please contact the Department of Regional NSW at youthcommunity@regional.nsw.gov.au.