FReeZA Community Grants

This form of youth participation not only displays young people’s skills and talents, it also celebrates and recognises the important contribution young people make to the cultural life of the local community.

About the grants

For the 2024 calendar year there is a total funding pool of $40,000.00 available.  Individual grants of between $1,000.00 and $10,000.00 are available for successful applicants to lead FReeZA events within Greater Shepparton.

The capacity of an organisation or individual to manage the project will be assessed and preference will be given to organisations that can demonstrate the required skills and organisational structure and/or planning to see the project through.

FReeZA events are diverse and reflect the needs and interests of local young people. FReeZA events provide important opportunities for young people to lead on the design and deliver on events, activities and programs that respond to the local youth culture.

FReeZA events must be drug, alcohol, vape and smoke-free and should reflect the broad interests of young people and the local youth culture, including, but not limited to:

• music - live performances and open mic
• dance - hip hop, pop, jazz, ballroom and tap
• events that celebrate First Nations history
• events that celebrate and provide safe spaces for diverse communities including First Nations, LGBTIQA+, multicultural communities and people living with a disability
• sport - skate, BMX, scooter, down ball tournament, 3 x 3 Basketball and E-Gaming
• festival - community and cultural recognition
• art - exhibitions, short film, theatre performance and workshops
• social, wellbeing and educational opportunities.

Funded projects must be able to demonstrate the following objectives:

• provide music, cultural and/or recreational FReeZA events that are fully supervised, drug, alcohol, vape and smoke-free;
• be inclusive and accessible to all young people in the local community, including vulnerable cohorts of young people experiencing additional disadvantage;
• implement a youth participation approach for engaging and recognising young people’s contribution to the cultural life of the local community through planning and delivery of FReeZA events;
• increase transferable and technical skills to support the successful delivery of FReeZA events in their community;
• provide performance opportunities at FReeZA events to showcase the skills and talents of young people; and
• establish networks and partnerships with other community organisations and businesses in the local community.

Funding is provided on a one-off basis. A minimum funding amount of $1,000.00 to a maximum funding amount of $10,000.00 per successful grant application is available.  Funding is limited and not all applications that meet the guidelines may be funded. Funding is on a project or program basis only, and no recurrent grants or annual funding commitments are available from this fund.

How to apply

Applying is an online process. Use the Online Grants Help Guide to get a better understanding of how to submit your online grant. Assistance can be requested to lodge your application.

Timeline

• 15 April 2024 at 9:00am:  Applications open.
• 30 August 2024 at 5:00pm: Applications close
• Four weeks after receipt of application: Notification of outcome
• Activity timeframes:  Activity cannot start until after 1 May 2024

Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm on the closing date. Please note late submissions WILL NOT be accepted.

Grant Guidelines

Please download and carefully review the grant guidelines from the link below before applying.