YOUNG people in Paterson are set to take an active role in caring for their local environment and strengthening community connections through a new youth-led initiative backed by state-wide funding.
Local changemaker Julie Overton has been awarded a $50,000 grant through the Backing the Future program for her “Cultivating Futures For Our Youth” initiative.
The project is designed to empower local young people to lead hands-on environmental initiatives that restore biodiversity, create shared community spaces and build leadership skills.
By placing young people at the centre of practical, place-based projects, Cultivating Futures aims to foster social connection, confidence and a strong sense of stewardship for the Paterson area.
The initiative will encourage participants to work together on environmental restoration while developing skills that support long-term social and ecological resilience within the community.
Julie’s project is one of ten funded across remote, rural and regional NSW in the latest round of Backing the Future, a flagship initiative of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF).
The 2025 round represents a $500,000 investment in pilot projects supporting people aged 12 to 30, with each recipient receiving $50,000 to bring early-stage ideas to life.
Since the program began, Backing the Future has committed $3.25 million to 65 projects across regional Australia, supporting grassroots ideas that respond directly to the needs of young people and their communities.
VFFF Chief Executive Officer Jenny Wheatley said the program focuses on strengthening the social fabric of rural and regional communities.
“It’s encouraging to see a mix of young people and other generations delivering projects for young people in their community,” she said.
“These grants recognise the passion and creativity of individuals who make a difference and enrich the lives of rural youth.”
Across NSW, the newly funded projects span a diverse range of themes, including agriculture, music, youth-led science and environmental education, entrepreneurship and initiatives that amplify multicultural voices.
Many also focus on fostering belonging, resilience and leadership through intergenerational connection.
Backing the Future is delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), which provides capacity-building support to grant recipients as their projects develop.
As Cultivating Futures moves forward, Paterson’s young people are set to play a hands-on role in shaping a more connected and sustainable future for their community.
By Shannon BENTON
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