Six projects aimed at supporting young people in Ashwood, Ashburton and Chadstone are set to share in more than $10,000 in grants.

State Burwood MP, Bob Stensholt said the grants, provided through the local Youth Foundations Victoria (YFV) project, would support projects ranging from a homework club for newly arrived young people to an online forum for young people to discuss mental health issues. 

“YACC 1766 – Ashwood, Ashburton and Chadstone Young People’s Action Committee has allocated grants for projects that will be run by other young people in their local community,” Bob Stensholt said.

“The six projects that received grants were chosen because they support the committee’s aim of empowering young people in the local community to help make the Ashwood, Ashburton and Chadstone area a better place for everyone to live.”

YACC 1766 is supported by a Local Partnership Group comprising representatives from Ashwood Secondary College, Boroondara and Monash City Councils, Camcare, Ceres Calisthenics Club, Glen Iris Uniting Church, Inner East Community Health Service, Monash Youth Representative Group and the Salvation Army, with the Craig Family Centre acting as the lead agency in partnership with the Southern Ethnic Advisory and Advocacy Council.

The Bendigo Bank Group and its community partners support YFV through matched funding and in-kind support and they also manage the pool of funds for each location. The bank’s Canterbury, Surrey Hills and Ashburton branches are matching government funding for Youth Foundations Victoria - Ashwood, Ashburton and Chadstone with a contribution of $106,000.

YFV is a partnership between the Victorian Government, Bendigo Bank and 15 local communities across the state. The initiative empowers local young Victorians to assess the needs of their local community and make funding decisions which will benefit other young people and the wider community.

The Minister for Youth Affairs, James Merlino, said the Victorian Government had contributed $4.5 million through the Community Support Fund to establish the initiative.

“YFV is an investment in young people that gives them a voice to help shape their community while learning valuable skills,” Mr Merlino said.

“The young people involved are from diverse backgrounds and they come together to work with key organisations to make grants they consider to be important for their community.

YACC 1766 is providing genuine opportunities for young people to get involved in their local community.

“I commend these young Victorians and the organisations that have supported them for their sense of purpose, integrity and commitment to local young people,” he said.