Twenty-eight projects that support social well-being have been approved to receive over $1 million in funding through Columbia Basin Trust’s Social Grants.

“Through these grants, we’re able to help social service organizations meet the needs of Basin communities and residents,” said Liz Gillis, Columbia Basin Trust Manager, Social Initiatives. “These projects will positively impact health and well-being throughout the Basin.”

One of the successful recipients is the Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley, receiving $10,900. Its project involves training the staff and volunteers of hospice societies around the region on how to provide bereavement support to specialized groups. The society will also be setting up bereavement support groups in the Columbia Valley for those affected by death due to traumatic events or suicide.

“These support groups will enable people who are bereaved for traumatic reasons to explore their grief and go through the mourning process in a safe environment,” said Maria Kliavkoff, Executive Director. “The groups are an important way of normalizing the experience, working through the pain and minimizing incidents of depression in our community. We will also expand the training of our own staff and volunteers, and those of other hospices, so that they are able to provide support to these specialized groups.”

The Windermere Valley Youth Centre is getting $7,000 to deliver an after-school food security program at the Summit Youth Centre to educate youth on meal planning, budgeting and preparation.

The West Kootenay Brain Injury Association, in Invermere and Golden, is getting $21,800 to provide facilitated support and skill development programming to help rehabilitate brain injury survivors.

And the Lake Windermere Alliance Church is getting $20,000 to expand the outdoor play area at the Sonshine Children’s Centre, enabling it to meet licensing requirements of a safe, fenced play area.

Since the program was launched in 2012, the Trust has been able to distribute slightly over $4 million to improving social well-being in our communities. Granting decisions are made by the Social Grants Program Selection Committee, a volunteer group of Basin residents that includes individuals who have experience and expertise in the social sector and individuals who have broader community development experience.

Social Grants is one way the Trust is assisting communities to improve the social well-being of residents in the Basin. Learn more about the goals and objectives of the Trust’s Social Initiatives in the Social Strategic Plan 2014-2019.

For more information about the program, visit cbt.org/2016socialgrants. To learn all the ways the Trust supports social well-being in the Basin, visit cbt.org/social.

Columbia Basin Trust supports the ideas and efforts of the people in the Columbia Basin. To learn more about the Trust’s programs and initiatives, and how it helps deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the Basin, visit cbt.org or call 1-800-505-8998.

Lead image: The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley has trained several people in how to provide bereavement support.

CBT

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