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Announcement: VFFF Backing the Future NSW grant recipients

In 2022, VFFF launched the Backing the Future grants program to support young people aged 15-24 in rural and regional NSW and QLD. Backing the Future grants award $50,000 over 12 months to individuals whose work is focused on rural and regional young people across one or more of VFFF's four focus areas: Decent Work, Caring for the Environment, Contributing to Society and Exploring Christian Faith and Values.

The first round of VFFF’s Backing the Future grants opened last August, for individuals based in NSW. Applicants were required to submit a written and video application outlining their idea to support young people. These applications were shortlisted by VFFF’s Youth Advisory Group to help ensure the voices of rural and regional young people were included in our granting process for Backing the Future.

In November 2022, nine outstanding applicants were selected as the first Backing the Future cohort. Below is a brief summary of their early stage ideas to support rural and regional young people.

Backing the Future applications from individuals in Queensland are currently being assessed. VFFF is looking forward to sharing the work of the selected QLD cohort later this year. To find out more about this grants program, click here.

Bevis Masson-Leach: Hometown

A pilot series of hip hop writing and production workshops, in the regional towns of Armidale, Bowraville, Moree and Newcastle, to pass on the skills, knowledge and experience of local artists to young people.

Callum Champagne: Grow the Future

In this program, young people in the Bega Valley Shire will have the opportunity to participate in work experience and regenerative skills training.

Emily Jones: Building youth engagement with their local councils

Supporting young people in rural and regional NSW to have the skills, networks and knowledge to better engage with their council.

Hayden Tonazzi: Regional Youth Performing Arts Engagement

A 12 month pilot program in regional NSW to increase young people’s engagement with the performing arts through workshops and productions.

Jae Brieffies: Bright Generation Careers Education Program

A program providing careers education opportunities to regional NSW students. The program will consist of a travelling careers education program, a city trip, a scholarship database and post-event mentoring.

John Alevras: Young Change Makers

Delivery of a 10 week program in South East NSW to provide young people with the knowledge and skills to become change makers in their local community through a system of permaculture learning.

Josie Clarke: Ability Agriculture - pathways & accessible roles in agriculture

Building a job site advertising accessible roles and work experience in agricultural enterprises in regional NSW.

Rebecca Murray: Youth Entrepreneurship Program

To mentor young people to start their own businesses in rural NSW and connect them with the life of a local church.

Scott Baker: Bioluminescence on the Far South Coast

A series of workshops for young people across the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley shires to capture the local environment on film and create site specific video projection mapping events for the broader community.