The not-for-profit community organisation gave people with disabilities opportunities to gain employment and training opportunities for more than 20 years. 

Its two main operations included Ballarat Christmas Trees and Future Property Services, providing maintenance to homes and businesses. 

It bought the Christmas tree farm in September 2011, and had 30 clients working on the farm pruning, shaping, cutting, weeding, fertilising, fencing and mowing.

The Ballarat Christmas Trees brand was formed last year and trees were sold at the Finding Futures Norman Street office. 

The organisation lost federal funding in 2012 and in March 2013, but it continued to pursue some projects without funding. 

The federal government awarded tenders for disability employment service to Western District Employment Access and Community AXIS. 

Finding Futures worked in collaboration with Sovereign Hill, Ballarat City Council and other organisations, and has taken on projects including the Aboriginal Cemetery Project. 

Their work with the Aboriginal Corporation for the Ballarat Dreamtime Aboriginal Cemetery Project won the Heritage Innovation Award at the 2014 Ballarat Heritage Awards. 

The cemetery project was opened  last November, constructed mostly by Aboriginal clients of Finding Futures. 

This year, Finding Futures was nominated as a Victorian Disability Sector Awards finalist, shortlisted in the business and community supporting

disability  category. 

The award ceremony will be held on June 4 at Federation Square. 

Finding Futures was contacted for comment, but did not respond to The Courier by deadline last night.

The answering machine for the organisation states ‘we are no longer trading’.

 nicole.cairns@fairfaxmedia.com.au