A local organisation providing social opportunities to young people with disability has scored a major grant to help it deliver its weekend getaway initiative.
Macedon’s Flying Fox was one of 123 organisations to share in $3.75 million as part of VicHealth’s JumpStart! program, securing $25,000.
Flying Fox fundraising and community engagement manager Tayla Cohen said the grant would help the organisation scale up its getaway program, Shortz.
“Shortz is a program where we take small groups of young people with and without disability to our very own holiday house in Lancefield. It is a weekend away with mates,” Ms Cohen said.
“We visit the local cafes – we love The Aspy so much. We support the local footy team… we just hang out, enjoying nature, the amazing Lancefield community, the local farmers market, and the company of our friends.
“The grant will help us scale to run many more of these weekend getaways into the future.”
Using a unique Buddy model, Flying Fox recruits and trains volunteers between 18 and 25 years old to help provide support to over 250 children and young people with disability across Victoria.
VicHealth said it was thrilled to announce the successful programs last month.
“We’re reaching far and wide across Victoria. There’s something here for everyone. The programs may be different, but they all share the same goal,” VicHealth said.
“It’s all about supporting young people to reach their full health potential.”
Ms Cohen said the organisation was proud of the impact it had on the lives of its participants, called Campers.
“We work with our Campers and their families to ensure that their support needs are met and that they can let their hair down and experience amazing adventures with us,” she said.
Elsie Lange
