Community resilience will be supported by 51 new projects across Vancouver Island and surrounding coastal communities because of Island Health’s Community Wellness Grant Program.
The Community Wellness Grant program helps promote health and wellness across the region Island Health serves by fostering local partnerships and grassroots initiatives. Nearly $800,000 from the Community Wellness Grant Program will fund a mix of projects and initiatives.
The diverse range of projects receiving funding in 2023/2024 include a facilitated support and activities group for women aged 50 and up recovering from domestic violence in the Capital Region; a partnership project in Alert Bay focused on intergenerational learning about Indigenous food security; an open school gym night series for families in Nanaimo; and a community dialogue on reducing smoke pollution in the Cowichan Valley.
“We’re so pleased to support another cohort of exciting Community Wellness Grant projects and congratulate this year’s recipients,” said Dr. Reka Gustafson, Island Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer. “Each year, these projects showcase the impact of supporting community organizations to address the unique needs of each part of our region. I look forward to seeing this year’s projects come to life.”
The Community Wellness Grant program is designed to support collaborative community-led upstream wellness interventions that reduce barriers and increase supports, enabling all members of the community to enjoy health and wellness.
In February 2023, Island Health issued a call for applications to local governments, community organizations and Indigenous communities for the 2023/2024 Community Wellness Grant Program. The theme of this year’s grant program was community resilience, inviting applicants to focus on one or more of the following criteria: diverse communities, connected communities, safe communities, nourished communities and active communities.
A complete list of 2023/2024 grant recipients is available on Island Health’s website at http://communitygrants.islandhealth.ca.