Fire to Flourish Clarence Valley and the Northern Rivers Community Foundation recently opened the final round for community-led disaster resilience funding, focused on Caring for Country and Youth.

This round, totalling $420,000, offers a chance for local community members and organisations to receive hands-on support in submitting grants for small-to-medium projects that prioritise Indigenous knowledge, help connect people with Country, and build sustainable resilience.

The focus on Caring for Country and Youth came from conversations with diverse communities and previous resilience planning co-design groups. The criteria to determine which projects are eligible for funding were developed by a group of Aboriginal community representatives living across Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl Countries in the Clarence Valley, as well as in consultation with youth.

Based on discussions with their communities, they have developed a group vision and identified local resilience priorities, which will guide their decision making on funding allocation:

We aim to empower our communities through initiatives that nurture respect, collaboration and inclusion, embracing a holistic approach, driven by our love of Country – honouring the wisdom of the Elders and knowledge held in the land and waters. We strive to actively engage children and young people by connecting with their passions, breaking down barriers and supporting their wellbeing and learning pathways.

This locally led resilience planning and granting process puts the decision-making power into the hands of the community. Young people are engaged in the co-design process and a priority for funding will be engaging with youth in the design and delivery of projects.

Grant-writing support is available for any individual or organisation wanting to apply for this round, which closes on Monday 3 February.

Apply and find more information, including grant writing support documents go to the following site: www.grantinterface.com.au/process/apply?urlkey=nrcf

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIy9gd8fI6E