Pathway Essentials in Daylesford will be helping more children, young Victorians and their families live healthier lives, thanks to a $49,850.00 grant from VicHealth’s second roundof its Growing Healthy Communities grants program.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, congratulates Pathway Essentials, who are one of 82 successful grant recipients. “Congratulations to Pathway Essentials. Growing Healthy Communities grants provide an opportunity for community-led organisations to build more active, inclusive and connected neighbourhoods.”
Pathway Essentials and its Cooked Diner Project is a youth-led social enterprise based at the Daylesford Arts, Recreation & Cultural Centre (ARC). The ARC, where young people are trained and paid to operate a community diner, provide healthy and affordable meals.
The project will transform the ARC kitchen and foyer into a welcoming drop in space for young people and families, co-designed with local youth and supported by recreation activities that promote connection, wellbeing and local food access.
At a time when many families face barriers like limited access to healthy food, cost of living pressures or safe spaces to be active, these grants aim to promote good health and prevent chronic disease before it starts.
These locally led projects will make it easier for families to access affordable, culturally appropriate, fresh food close to home, eat well, move more, and stay connected to their community.
