Background
The Indigenous Peer Support Grant is a rolling funding opportunity for up to $40,000 for First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous-led peer groups with a decision-making body, doing work that is directly linked to supporting people who use drugs.
The goal of this grant is to strengthen Indigenous-led peer groups across the province with Indigenous voices and perspectives as an integral part of the decision-making process. This aims to ensure regional needs are addressed, provincial responses are effective in saving lives and the negative impacts from the current toxic drug supply are reduced while also connecting people to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
Eligibility
This grant is an invite-only grant through a team of Indigenous knowledge keepers across the province for Indigenous groups that are working to address the burdens of the toxic drug crisis on their communities and peers.
Types of funding and streams
There is a total of $400,000 in grant funds available over 2 years to be distributed on a rolling basis with two different streams for applications:
Stream 1: Applications less than $20,000 for one-time, 1-year capacity grants. Examples:
- Cultural projects (e.g. wellness, traditional practice).
- Trainings and workshops (e.g. harm reduction education and training).
- Convening with stakeholders to discuss issues, foster collaboration, and develop shared solutions.
Stream 2: Applications between $20,000 and $40,000 for 1 or 2-year projects/partnership grants. Examples:
- Holding regular meetings for peers (with honoraria given) to provide social support, connections and inclusion.
- Outreach in community with distribution of Indigenous harm reduction supplies.
- Provide peer support, systems navigation and connect Indigenous people to services/shelter.
- Providing a physical space for hub or community drop-in space.
- Collaboration with partners to coordinate delivering responses to the toxic drug crisis to support Indigenous peers.
How applications are reviewed
Applications submitted by invited groups will be assessed by an Advisory Council from regions across BC who identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuit, or urban Indigenous, are people with lived or living experience (PWLLE) of substance use and come from a wide range of backgrounds.
These Council members bring an understanding of and/or experience with community mental health and substance use systems of care in BC as well as knowledge of regional mental health and substance use service needs and priorities, referral pathways and processes.
Contact
Arpan Pandher, Project Manager: [email protected]