An innovation lab for young people, a new platform to buy and sell second-hand clothes, and a program to support a more positive education on menstruation are just three of nine projects funded through YWCA Canberra’s Great Ydeas Small Grants Program this year.
Over 130 Canberrans came together today to celebrate the awarding of the grants to nine local women at this year’s Great Ydeas Innovation Breakfast. Supported by Beyond Bank, Sustineo and the Canberra Innovation Network, as well as by YWCA Canberra itself, the Great Ydeas grants have been offered to women and girls in the nation’s capital since 2010, and have seen the launch of numerous successful, and still active enterprises and projects in that time.
This year, the program once again received a strong number of applications, and will support nine exciting and innovative ideas with up to $2,500 in funding each.
YWCA Canberra CEO, Frances Crimmins, said the grants are a highlight for the organisation each year, as they connect to its core mission of ‘Girls and women thriving’.
“The Great Ydeas program was launched as a way to celebrate our 80th birthday back in 2010, and has become a core funding opportunity for Canberra women in the decade since then,” Ms Crimmins said.
“This year, we once again have been blown away by the creativity, passion, and commitment to making an impact that our applicants have shown. The diversity of the projects we’re funding is testament to the rich and vibrant culture of innovation and change making we have in Canberra.”
Great Ydeas Partners, Sustineo, Beyond Bank and the Canberra Innovation Network each contributed funding to support additional grants to be awarded this year, and collectively have funded an additional five projects.
“Beyond Bank Australia is very excited to support YWCA Canberra and help one of their members bring a dream to reality. We value the work of their community members and love to support projects or professional development opportunities that focus on delivering a positive social outcome for the community,” Kenyon Neal, Community Development Manager at Beyond Bank said.
“The Canberra Innovation Network is really proud to be supporting YWCA’s Great Ydeas initiative. There’s an amazing talent pool here in Canberra of women in innovation and entrepreneurship, and we are so excited to work with recipients who are instrumental in growing the innovation ecosystem and bringing these amazing ideas to fruition,” Sharyn Smith, COO of Canberra Innovation Network said.
“We are thrilled to be able to support two excellent but very different initiatives through the YWCA Great Ydeas Grants. Both recipients of our grants have identified opportunities for supporting and empowering women in the Territory and beyond. We are really excited to see what they are able to achieve through the scope of this grant,” Tom Sloan, CEO of Sustineo said.
A full list of successful projects and applicants is attached. Frances Crimmins, Great Ydeas recipients, and representatives from our Partners are available for interview. Media are also invited to attend the award ceremony on Thursday 29 April following the Great Ydeas Innovation Breakfast. Please contact us to coordinate.
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Media contact: Zoya Patel, 0455 655 330, zoya.patel@ywca-canberra.org.au