BARNABY Joyce has once again thrown his weight behind Youth Insearch with a glowing letter of endorsement, backing the local youth support program for federal funding.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The charity has applied for a $150,000 grant through the Strong and Resilient Communities scheme, and the Deputy Prime Minister said it was his “great pleasure” to support the program.
Mr Joyce said the importance of the charity to the local community “cannot be overstated” and its youth support program was “most deserving” of the federal government grant.
“I was pleased to have the opportunity to attend a Youth Insearch weekend workshop held at a Lake Keepit near Tamworth earlier this year,” Mr Joyce wrote.
“I am very much aware of the profound impact this excellent program has on changing the lives of young people who have been impacted by a broad range of issues.”
Youth Insearch CEO Heath Ducker hoped Mr Joyce’s support would help the organisation fill its $400,000 funding gap.
“We’re really pleased to have received a letter of support from the Deputy Prime Minister for the funding application,” Mr Ducker said.
“This should assist greatly with the success of the grant application. We now have our fingers crossed hoping for a positive outcome.”
In his letter, the Deputy Prime Minister wrote the outcomes of the Youth Insearch program were “impressive” and the organisation was “to be commended” for developing an “outstanding program” which had “helped to change and save thousands of young lives since its inception”.
[Youth Insearch has] helped to change and save thousands of young lives since its inception.
- Barnaby Joyce
“The program certainly makes the community stronger and more resilient by reducing the burden of disaffected youth and bringing together the community to help solve its own problems,” Mr Joyce said.
“I may once again commend Youth Insearch upon the outstanding support the organisation plays in helping save and change the lives of young people through this excellent program.”
Joblink Plus recently donated $100,000 to Youth Insearch in an effort to reduce its funding gap, which was created when the federal government discontinued the funding stream that supported the organisation.
The charity has asked Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson to organise a meeting with a number of state government ministers.