Opportunities for youth

FUNDED: Students at local schools are set to benefit from the $20,000 grant at Youth Opportunities.

STAND Like Stone has announced this year’s local grant recipients, with $50,000 going towards local projects.

Announced last month, the Stand Like Stone grants supported by OneFortyOne will go towards local community programs.

Australian Schools Plus has received $20,000 to assist the social work model, which runs at three Mount Gambier Primary Schools to help close the education gap caused by disadvantage.

According to the organisation, the model builds on the successful work undertaken at Melaleuca Park Primary School, which has seen an overall increase in attendance and reading data and a decrease in behaviour incidences since the school’s introduction of a social worker.

An organisation representative said the grant funding will enable additional part-time social workers to be placed at Mulga Street Primary School and Mount Gambier North Primary School.

Chief executive of Schools Plus Rosemary Conn said the organisation was grateful for the grant.

“We have had the opportunity to support hundreds of schools with similar initiatives over the past few years and are confident this funding will have a significant and long-term impact on the students and their families at these schools,“ Ms Conn said.

A second $20,000 grant has gone to Youth Opportunities to assist young people from public schools in Mount Gambier, Penola and Naracoorte to participate in a program to develop life and career skills.

Grant Manager at Youth Opportunities Sacha Burkett said it was great to receive the support to help continue their programs in Mount Gambier.

“They have been supporting us for a while, so it is fantastic to have this grant again,“ Ms Burkett said.

“It helps us to continue our Youth Opportunities program in the Limestone Coast region.“

Mil-Lel Memorial Park has also received $10,00 in the grant program for kitchen and equipment upgrades.

OneFortyOne Jubilee Sawmill General Manager Paul Hartung said it was great to work with Stand Like Stone again this year.

“We were pleased to receive many great applications, which just shows how many passionate people live in the Limestone Coast,“ Mr Hartung said.

“The applications go through a rigorous review process. This way we ensure we are funding projects that meet our objectives, which includes projects which will have an ongoing and positive impact.

“This year we sponsored projects that focus on youth education and opportunity.“

OneFortyOne donated a further $30,200 to support another five organisations that applied for grants within the region.

“We are really happy to be able to also support Allendale Community Hall, St John Volunteers, Mulga Street Primary School, Foodbank and Penola Swim Club,“ Paul said.