Indigenous-Led Gambling Harm Reduction and Community Capacity Building Grant

Overview

The grant is established in partnership with Community Action Initiative (CAI), the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Gambling Supports B.C. (GSBC), and is informed by the needs of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous service providers, Nations and community organizations. The grant offers funding of up to $45,000 per year over a two-year period, to a maximum total of $90,000 per grantee. It is available to First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous-led organizations delivering services to Indigenous communities in British Columbia. This funding is intended to support community-based capacity-building strategies aimed at reducing gambling-related harms and connections with co-occurring mental health and substance use considerations, including but not limited to:

  • Preparedness:  Assess community needs and resources to respond to gambling harms, such as collecting local data on prevalence, awareness, and risk factors, informing future planning and early identification strategies.
  • Prevention: Create and deliver culturally grounded public education workshops and materials that raise awareness of gambling harms and promote safer behaviours within the community.
  • Response: Establish a wrap-around support pathway that integrates counselling, cultural supports, and referral services for individuals and families experiencing gambling-related harms.
  • Recovery: Deliver land-based healing and cultural reconnection programming, including access to Traditional Medicines and Indigenous games, to support wholistic, community-led recovery.
  • Other capacity building initiatives, as determined by your organization or Nation

Timeline

  • June 1, 2026 : Applications open
  • July 3, 2026 : Applications close
  • June – August 2026: Review and selection process
  • September 2026 : Applicants notified of decisions
  • November 2026 : Grant awards distributed
  • October 2028 : Project activities completed and funding spent by

Grant Details

How to apply

The application process was created to be as low barrier as possible. It has two options for submitting with an emphasis on orally sharing your organization’s story and proposal.

Option 1: Online Application (Tahua)

Complete and submit the application form through our online grant system, Tahua, including:

  • Organization profile
  • Project proposal
  • Project budget
  • Certificate of Insurance
  • WorkSafe Clearance Letter
  • Proof of society registration or charitable status (First Nation Bands are exempt from this requirement)
  • Consent and declaration

Apply now

Option 2: Oral Application (30 minutes max)

Schedule a virtual call with the Project Manager to complete your application orally prior to the application deadline using this link. You will still need to complete the following:

  • Project budget
  • Certificate of Insurance
  • WorkSafe Clearance Letter
  • Proof of society registration or charitable status (First Nation Bands are exempt from this requirement)
  • Consent and declaration

Contact

For any questions, please contact Samantha Young, Project Manager, Support Recovery at [email protected] or (236) 334-8240