Youth leaders program wins inaugural grant

The Riddoch Business & Community Association has emerged as the inaugural recipient of the newly installed Friends Champion Grant as part of the Stand Like Stone Foundation grants program.

The association was applauded for its Riddoch Leaders Program and has secured the first $2500 windfall to be handed out by the new foundation grants program.

The grant that will go towards supporting two local youth, from the Wattle Range Council district, to participate in a leadership development training program. The Riddoch Leaders program, in partnership with Youth Opportunities, is seeking to support local youth in developing all important life skills.

Riddoch Business & Community Association spokesperson Simone Kain (pictured) said the Generation Thrive X Riddoch Leaders program would develop and enhance participants’ social and emotional capabilities while increasing personal accountability, self- leadership, resilience, and well- being.

“This will better prepare our young people for success in their personal and professional lives,” Mrs Kain said.

Late last year Stand Like Stone wanted to encourage and help more people become a local philanthropist for the Limestone Coast community and as a result, established the ‘Friends of Stand Like Stone’ which enables any individual or organisation to support the foundation on a number of levels.

A key aspect of this initiative was the ability to not only enable the local community to support the on-going operations of the foundation, but also enable a grant to be given out each year, called the Friends Champion Grant. Subsequently the inaugural ‘Friends Champion Grant’ opened for applications earlier this year.

“Initiatives such as the Friends of Stand Like Stone Champion grant enables the Foundation to respond to the needs of the communities of this region, ensuring local projects receive the support they deserve,” Mr Babolka said.