Wollondilly Shire Council welcomes a $50,000 grant from the Office for Regional Youth, Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative, in response to the significant floods and storms which impacted the Shire in 2022.

The grant will fund the Youth Stories project, delivered to the young people of the Shire through a partnership between Council and River Road Creative Academy. The project will support Wollondilly’s young people to tell their stories through the creative arts.

The funding will further benefit young people through the provision of Youth Mental Health First Aid training to mentors from the River Road Creative Academy.

The Academy will be working alongside local psychologists from Wildflower Holistic Services to provide additional support to the young people taking part in the program.

Young people will be invited to attend a series of creative workshops, which will include music, film, drama, visual arts, street art and photography where they will be supported to create their own artistic works.

The results will be exhibited during the Youth Stories Festival, and through an app and website.

Mayor Matt Gould said, “Wollondilly had another challenging year in 2022, and this program provides an important way for local young people to find ways to express how they are feeling through a creative outlet in a safe, supported space.”

“I encourage young people to take part in this great program, and I look forward to seeing and hearing their personal stories at the Youth Stories Festival later in the year.”

More information is available by visiting River Road Creative Academy’s website.