Community
YCAC win Nutrien Ag funding

Young Crisis Accommodation Centre are one of 59 recipients from across the country to be announced as recipients of funding from Nutrien Ag Solutions Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.

The announcement came last week with Young Crisis Accommodation Centre to receive $4076 as one of the not-for-profit recipients.

"YCAC is often looking for funding opportunities to enhance our supports to the community," YCAC manager Kerri Palmer said.

"Current funding restraints mean that we are always in search of ways to meet the gap to continue to deliver our vital services and supports to this region.

"This funding means a lot to our organisation and will support the needs of this community."

As part of YCAC and its partner's educational outreach they provide educational programs across the Hilltops region.

"The funding will be used to purchase new technology for YCAC and key partners to deliver the Lovebites program to the youth in the Hilltops," Kerri said.

"Lovebites is a program targeting early intervention for domestic and family violence awareness and arming youth with the ability to identify unhealthy relationships.

"The technology will also allow YCAC to provide effective outreach support to our clients who are homeless or experiencing domestic and family violence."

Young Crisis Accommodation Centre was originally set up to provide safe and secure accommodation for women and children fleeing family and domestic violence and homelessness, today they cater to a wide range of people, not just locally but regionally as well, providing support and help to people in Temora, Cowra, Cootamundra, Boorowa, Young, Grenfell, Harden and even further afield.

The centre has evolved into a multi-purpose service offering tailored support plans for homeless people and those at risk, including young people, women, men, individuals and families and focuses on rapid rehousing and assistance to sustain tenancies.

YCAC work collaboratively with people to achieve long term sustainable outcomes through case management, provide specialist services to people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and those who are at risk.

As has been previously reported earlier this year Margaret House has been at full capacity for the full financial year and has helped those who have needed it for whatever reason, so the funding that YCAC has received from Nutrien Ag and FRRR is very welcome.

"We are so grateful to Nutrien Ag for the opportunity to apply for the funds and for choosing our organisation to be a recipient," Kerri said.

"We know that the benefits will filter through to the entire community and we thank them for their generosity."

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal's Jill Karena said being a part of the program means that community groups can access the funding they need to create vibrant and sustainable communities.

"Like all of us, these volunteer led organisations are also feeling the increases in the cost of living, so we're pleased that a significant tranche of funding has gone toward helping to sustain local community organisations and to host events that both bring the community together and raise vital funds for key local projects," she said.

"As in previous rounds, the most common requests were for funding to support infrastructure and equipment.

"Many community facilities, which are critical to sustaining social cohesion, are deteriorating as government funding declines, so these grants will help to maintain and enhance these important local meeting places and help create vibrant, resilient communities."

Corporate Affairs advisor for Nutrien Ag, Mady Muirhead was very pleased to be able to make the fourth-round of the Nutrien Community Grants program announcement and said the grants aim to strengthen resilience and sustainability and contribute toward long term positive social and environmental outcomes.

"It's wonderful to be able to support so many of the places where the Nutrien staff live and work," Ms Muirhead said.