Ontario Government Expands Youth Opportunities Fund Aimed At Helping Youth Grow And Thrive

By Michael Van Cooten
PRIDE Publisher/Editor

BRAMPTON, Ontario — At-risk youth across Ontario, who face multiple barriers to societal advancement and success, will benefit from $7,751,500 in funding from the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF).

A total of 31 grants to youth-led or for-youth grassroots groups and community-based organizations were announced, today, at LAB B in Brampton, by the Minister of Children and Youth Services, Hon. Tracy MacCharles.

She was joined by representatives from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) and Brampton’s LAB B and Power to Girls Foundation, two of the YOF grant recipients.

These grants will benefit at-risk youth in communities across Ontario, including Akwesasne, Fort Albany, Hamilton, Kingston, Moose Factory, Naughton, Ohsweken, Ottawa, Peterborough, and Sachigo Lake.

“We are exceptionally proud of the impact our Youth Opportunities Fund has had in helping youth in communities across Ontario reach their full potential. This fund is a great example of partnerships with local grassroots groups who know and understand the needs of their communities and who know best how to achieve great success,” said MacCharles.

These initiatives will also engage young people, ages 12 to 25, and will benefit youth from various communities, including First Nations, Inuit or Métis, racialized, recent immigrants, LGBTTQ, and/or youth with special needs.

The program will also strengthen support for young people who: are at-risk of becoming and/or are in conflict with the law; have experience in child welfare services; are in low-income situations or from low-income families; and have dropped out of, or are at-risk of dropping out of, school.

The YOF invests in ideas and projects led by, or focused on, youth who face multiple barriers, and supports projects aligned with the Ontario’s strategic framework for youth, Stepping Up: A Strategic Framework to Help Ontario’s Youth Succeed.

After the success of its work in the Greater Toronto Area, YOF expanded its reach to serve youth across Ontario since June 2015. The 31 organizations are the first group of grantees to benefit from the program’s expansion.

Four examples of YOF grantees are:

LAB B, Brampton’s first co-working space, home to creative freelancers and entrepreneurs, is receiving $300,000 over 36 months, to create a Creative Economy Co-op program that will help youth in Peel Region gain entrepreneurial skills through mentorship.

T-Miut care of Tungasuvvingat Inuit receives $210,000 over 36 months to create a space for Inuit youth in Toronto to meet, gather, and learn about the Inuk identity. T-Miut will develop a language curriculum, teach traditional skills such as beading games, sewing, singing, and drumming, and provide cultural teachings. Funds will be used to hire project coordinators, rent space, conduct outreach, and deliver programming.

Legalswipe care of Ontario Justice Education Network gets $137,200 over 24 months, to offer legal education workshops and further develop a software application that is designed to help Aboriginal, racialized and newcomer youth and youth living in rural and remote communities learn about their legal rights during interactions with law enforcement. Funds will be used for staffing and workshop supplies.

Fort Albany Youth Council care of  Fort Albany First Nation receives $210,000 over 36 months, to provide empowerment workshops, life skills training, camp retreats, and overall support for youth in Fort Albany First Nation. This initiative aims to increase the self-esteem and confidence of young people in the community. Funds will be used for staffing, training, and workshops.

Other projects receiving funding this year will help at-risk youth gain skills like computer coding, software design, and music; learn about positive body image, healthy relationships and self-confidence; and get active in sports and physical activity. Some recipient organizations have a special focus on Indigenous, racialized, newcomer, Francophone and LGBTTQ youth.

“Receiving a $300,000 investment from the Youth Opportunities Fund will be a catalyst in our community’s work in improving the outcomes of all young people in Peel Region, especially newcomer and visible minority youth.

“We will use this funding to support individuals with the resources, knowledge and networks required to move their ideas to action. Various programming initiatives will seek to develop entrepreneurial, digital and artistic skill sets of participants, said Harman Grewal, co-Founder, LAB B.

The Ontario government also announced that next year’s YOF, which is part of the province’s $55-million enhanced Ontario Youth Action Plan – Ontario’s largest investment to date, to help children and youth in high-priority communities across the province — will be expanded to a total of $12.95 million.

Since its launch in 2013, the Youth Opportunities Fund has provided $18.7 million to 73 community groups benefitting more than 100,000 youth. Grants are awarded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation based on how well projects address desired outcomes in Stepping Up: A Strategic Framework to Help Ontario’s Youth Succeed.

The leading grant-making foundation in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) — an agency of the Government of Ontario — builds healthy and vibrant communities by strengthening the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives.

“This year’s announcement is special because we had a chance to expand our reach across the province. Special thanks to our Grant Review Committee who always go above and beyond when assessing applications.

“These projects are going to make a big difference in the lives of Ontario’s youth. We are thrilled for the grantees and look forward to see the fruition of their hard work and commitment,” said Janet Yale, Chair, Board Chair, Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The application period for next year’s grants will be launched this summer.