People on Vancouver Island will benefit from up to $800,000 in community wellness grants that are once again being provided by Island Health to improve the health and well-being of Island residents.
Now in its fourth year, Island Health’s Community Wellness Granting Program provides the opportunity for not-for-profit organizations, local government organizations and Indigenous Nations, organizations and communities to apply for one-time funding for the development of new initiatives and programs. Criteria for community wellness grants includes healthy aging, positive mental health, social and family connectedness, healthy eating and physical activity.
“Island Health is very proud to support community based non-profit organizations through the Community Wellness Granting Program,” says Kathy MacNeil, Island Health’s President and CEO. “Together we are making lasting changes to improve the health and wellness of the people, families and communities we proudly serve.”
A total of up to $600,000 is available for individual/small grant funding. Individual grants will be awarded up to $12,000 each.
To encourage partnerships and collaboration, the remaining $200,000 is allocated for projects that are multi-jurisdictional/multi-agency and involve a minimum of three partner organizations. Partnership grant applications will be awarded up to $50,000 each.
In the third year of Island Health’s Community Wellness Granting Program, 56 grants were awarded to different organizations totalling nearly $765,000. This included 8 partnership grants ranging from $13,000 to $50,000 and 48 individual grants ranging from $900 to $12,000.
“These community grants have served, and will continue to serve, promoting and fostering ideas to advance health and wellness at the grassroots level. By providing these funds, Island Health recognizes the importance of the role that the community plays in highlighting and at times contributing to improving the social determinants of health,” says Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer.
For more information on how to apply for a Community Wellness Grant and for updates on some of our previous year’s recipients, please visit our website at: communitygrants.islandhealth.ca
Central/North Island media inquiries
Dominic Abassi
250.755-7966
Dominic.Abassi@islandhealth.ca
Cowichan/South Island media inquiries
Cheryl Bloxham
250.370.8878
Cheryl.Bloxham@islandhealth.ca