What is the Mayoral Young Potential Award?
The Mayoral Young Potential Grants Program is an initiative of Wyndham City Council. The Program recognises that:
- Wyndham is a community of achievers
- Wyndham is a community mainly of young people (38% of the population are 24 years of age and under).
- Wyndham is a diverse community, and young people have a wide range of interests and pursuits.
- Council's role is that of a facilitator and partner with the community where it can help recognise achievement and promote people who achieve.
Understanding the above, Wyndham has established a grants program where young people up to the age of 24 will be recognised for their potential in personal and community development. The program can be understood as showing community acknowledgment of the abilities and capacities inherent within the young people in the Wyndham community.
Under this program a young person makes an application, and if they meet the set criteria, a grant of up to $500 may be awarded. All recipients of the Mayoral Young Potential Grants also receive a position as a finalist for the Wyndham Young Achiever of the Year award.
What the Award recognises
The Mayoral Young Potential Award recognise individuals who have:
- potential in any field of endeavour (eg education, arts, culture, recreation, community development, community service, community leadership, etc.)
- potential that shows uniqueness of innovation
- potential that indicates independence and self support
- potential to learn and develop
- potential where major adversity has been overcome, or is being overcome
- potential that has the capacity to be ongoing into the future
- potential that can be recognised and endorsed by the general community
- potential where a Council contribution would meet a specific need
Applicants must meet at least one of the above criteria to be considered for a grant.
What the Award does ‘NOT’ recognise:
The awards cannot:
- be given to groups agencies or collectives;
- be given to people who do not live, work or study full time in Wyndham;
- be given to people who are outside of the age criteria;
- be given retrospectively for reimbursement of costs;
The Mayoral Young Potential Award aims to recognise a diverse range of endeavours. Emphasis will be given to looking for a varying range of potential and skills in Wyndham. Whilst the grants may be given for purposes of attending sporting competitions or carnivals, they will only be awarded if the individual has shown exemplary and unique potential in their sporting field. The awards should not be seen solely as a fund for resourcing travel and accommodation costs in attending such events.
What is the process?
- To be considered for a grant, applicants must complete and return the attached nomination form. Incomplete nomination forms will not be accepted.
- An applicant can nominate themselves or be nominated by another person or group.
- When an applicant is nominated by another person or group, the consent of the applicant must be obtained.
- Each applicant will be assessed based on the information provided in the nomination form.
- Applications close on the 25th day of each month, and the Assessment Committee will notify the successful applicant of their award on the 28th day of each month.
- Applicants who are unsuccessful are welcome re-apply for the grant in the following month.
For assistance completing the nomination form, please contact the Youth Planning Officer on 9742 8118.
Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee made up of:
-
Youth & Children's Services staff members
-
Youth Planning Officer
Further information?
Contact Matthew Wilson via email on matthew.wilson@wyndham.vic.gov.au
OR
If you want further information go to the YOUTH WEBSITE by click here