Community Counselling Grants

This grant is not accepting applications.

Community Action Initiative, in partnership with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and the Ministry of Health, has awarded Community Counselling Grants to organizations across British Columbia since 2019.

Currently, 38 organizations are funded under the initiative.

• Increase access to community-based clinical counselling for improved mental health and substance use outcomes, with a focus on reaching individuals or families who are not likely to engage in mainstream services, or who would not typically have access to counselling opportunities
• Increase the quality of community-based counselling through the provision of necessary infrastructure to support non-profit, grassroots and/or volunteer-run programs.

Fraser Health

• Archway Community Services (serving Abbotsford)
• Cythera Transition House Society (serving Maple Ridge)
• DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society (serving Surrey)
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver (serving New Westminster and province-wide)
• Kinghaven Peardonville House Society (serving Abbotsford)
• Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Community Services (serving Maple Ridge)
• Moving Forward Family Services (serving province-wide)
• Deltassist Family and Community Services Society (serving Delta)
• SHARE Family and Community Services (serving Tri-Cities Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Anmore, and Belcarra)
• Fraser House Society (serving Mission)

Interior Health

• Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre (serving 100 Mile House and communities in the South Cariboo region)
• Independent Living Vernon Society (serving Vernon)
• Metis Community Services Society of BC (serving Central Okanagan)
• OneSky Community Resources (serving Penticton)
• Yellowhead Community Services (serving Barriere & Clearwater, McLure to Blue River)
• CMHA Cariboo-Chilcoltin (serving Williams Lake)
• CMHA Kelowna (serving Kelowna)
• Kamloops Family Resources Society (serving Kamloops)

Island Health

• Esquimalt Neighbourhood House Society (serving Esquimalt)
• Kwakiutl First Nation Health Centre (serving Northern Vancouver Island)
• Pacific Centre Family Services Association (serving Victoria and Colwood)
• Peers Victoria Resources Society (serving Victoria)
• Salt Spring Island Community Services (serving Salt Spring Island)
• Snuneymuxw First Nation (serving Nanaimo)
• Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees (serving Victoria and Vancouver Island)
• Hiiye’yu Lelum (House of Friendship) Society (serving Cowichan Valley)

Northern Health

• Dze L k’ant Friendship Centre Society (serving Smithers and Houston)
• Soonats’ooneh Health Society / Central Interior Native Health Society (serving Prince George and surrounding Northern communities such as Hazelton, Gitsegukla, Kitwanga, Fort Babine, Lake Babine, Witset, Takla, Tlazten, Binche, Nakazdli, and Yekooche)
• Prince George Native Friendship Centre (serving Prince George)

Vancouver Coastal Health

• CMHA North and West Vancouver (serving North and West Vancouver)
• Family Services of the North Shore (serving North Shore, including the Sea to Sky Corridor)
• Jewish Family Services (serving Vancouver)
• REACH Community Health Centre (serving Vancouver)
• S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (serving Vancouver)
• Turning Point Recovery Society (serving Richmond, Vancouver, and the North Shore)
• Vancouver Association for the Survivors of Torture (serving Vancouver)
• Watari Counselling and Support Services (serving Vancouver)
• Gordon Neighbourhood House (serving Vancouver)

“‘M.’ concealed their sexual orientation while working as a flight attendant on international flights. Upon returning to their conservative hometown, they faced severe mistreatment and aggression, including physical and psychological abuse, which escalated to the point that even the police mistreated them when they sought to file a report. Recognizing the need for a safe space, we worked collaboratively to create an environment of trust, helping the client build self-confidence. Together, we addressed various areas, including psychoeducation, boundaries, and previously unrecognized triggers. ‘M.’ attended 10 individual counseling sessions and also received support from Rainbow Refugee and Immigrant Services Society of BC’s Settlement Orientation Services.” —Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture

“EFry’s Counselling Program supports women in accessing no-cost counselling to address a variety of goals, including addressing substance use concerns, developing effective coping skills and setting healthy boundaries in relationships, managing stress through life transitions (e.g. leaving a bed-based treatment facility, searching for employment and housing), and emotion regulation. One client engaged in counselling to seek support while she transitioned from a bed-based substance use treatment program to their home community. The client stated that the ongoing counselling helped her to maintain abstinence even during a brief period of homelessness. She is now housed, has found employment after a period of job seeking, started a new relationship, and reported an increase in self-confidence and stability in her life.” —Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver

Read more impact stories

Anna Harcourt, Manager, Grants and Community Initiatives: [email protected]

Courtney Aarif, Project Manager, Community Counselling Grants: [email protected]