Our grant process is twofold. It provides support for many diverse projects delivered to support our community, and it uncovers some of the wonderful work that others are doing to support and provide equal opportunity locally.
When we discover new and wonderful organisations, not-for-profits and social enterprises operating to benefit our community, we often uncover innovative ways to collaborate, support and create impact in areas of need.
One of the 20 recipients of Greater Shepparton Foundation’s 2023 grant round was the Crazy Ideas College. It sought funding to support its Social Innovators program for local young people.
The Social Innovators program unlocks the imagination, ingenuity and social agency of young people.
The collaboratively funded project will recruit young people from secondary schools in Greater Shepparton, and it will be delivered locally in three phases:
1. Young people are engaged and generate crazy good ideas. Social Innovators will equip them with the skills, confidence and connections to invent services, programs and products that enrich the lives of those in our community.
2. Young people will collaborate with the community to bring these crazy ideas to life. Social Innovators transforms the way young people connect and collaborate with business and the community; CIC and Greater Shepparton Foundation will provide teams with the coaching, skills and resources they need to collaborate with partners in bringing their ideas to life.
3. The stories of young people and their ideas are shared widely. We all stand to benefit when young people feel confident about their futures and want to make their mark in work and community life; sharing their stories wide and far allows local businesses and the community to connect to a pipeline of talented young people.
The Social Innovators program has been successfully delivered in locations across Victoria, and we are proud to partner with CIC to support our young people in finding their voice and uncovering great ideas to benefit our community.
CIC is set to begin the Social Innovators project with local schools in term one, 2024. Anyone wanting to find out more can contact Sarah at the college by email at sarah@crazyideascollege.com
We look forward to collaborating with CIC to ensure successful local engagement and support for the Social Innovators program. We can’t wait to see our future leaders bring their ideas to reality and establish valuable community connections for the benefit of our region.
For more information on other local projects supported by the Greater Shepparton Foundation, please visit the ‘Grants’ page on our website, www.greatershepparton.foundation
Until next time.
Amanda McCulloch
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer
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