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Mid Richmond Neighbourhood youth workers with Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis outside the mobile youth van.  L-R: Tahli Butler, Jess Rikey and Jacque Ashworth.

Nationals dig deep for Clarence and Richmond Valley youth

Two youth projects in the Clarence and Richmond Valleys will go full steam ahead thanks to $700,000 in funding from the Nationals in NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund, Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis has announced.

“The New School of Arts Neighbourhood House, run by the tireless 2019 Clarence Woman of the Year Skye Sear, has won their $373,522 bid to build on the success of its pop-up youth hubs across the Clarence Valley.

“The new youth hubs will use existing venues in South Grafton, Grafton, Maclean, Yamba and Baryulgil to create youth hubs where youth specialists and trained volunteers will deliver programs like holiday and physical activities, youth led initiatives and social opportunities,” Mr Gulaptis said.

The New School of Arts Neighbourhood House said they were very excited to receive this funding and be able to expand on its successful pop-up hubs initiative for young people across the Clarence Valley.

Mr Gulaptis said the Government had also fully met the popular Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre’s request for $322,842.

“This funding is to extend the operation for another year of the hugely successful Richmond Valley Mobile Youth Van project, which started in 2019,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“Young people in the Richmond Valley describe it as a safe space, one that ‘belongs’ to them, backing that up with signatures in support of the project and decorating the van with their own art.”

The Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre said continuing the Mobile Youth Van project benefits the region’s youth with engagement in community, a focus on wellbeing and connectivity, and assistance in becoming work ready.

 

New School of Arts Neighbourhood Centre youth workers L-R: Jeremy Jablonski and Renee Fahey, Centre General Manager Skye Sear and volunteer Ella Sear inside one of the successful pop-up hubs. Images all taken prior to Social Distancing Rules applied