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Background
Meaningful employment for PWLLE of mental illness and/or substance provides a space to gain feelings of confidence and empowerment; provides financial resources; helps expand their professional skills; and helps create social networks. Employment can also support health and well-being, and may even promote recovery. (CMHA 2023)
Through lived or living experience with mental illness and/or substance use, people have gained unique knowledge and insights that can inform services and programs, and support organizations in identifying, implementing and evaluating strategies that consider mental illness and/or substance use.
However, PWLLE of mental illness and/or substance use often experience barriers to employment and high unemployment rates. (CMHA 2024)
A significant barrier exists at the organizational and systems level – organizations may be reluctant to hire PWLLE or are unable to properly support PWLLE. Workplaces run the risk of re-creating experiences of social exclusion, inequity, and systemic harm. (CMHA 2023)
This grant opportunity aims to increase organizational and system readiness by providing funds, capacity-building opportunities and an ongoing Community of Practice to create inclusive and accessible workplaces where lived experience is valued and recognized as expertise.
Grant Amount
Non-government, not-for-profit, CBOs or First Nations, Métis, Inuit or urban Indigenous led organizations in BC are invited to apply for up to $60,000 in annual funding for a 2-year term.
Anticipated Timelines
- Monday, December 1, 2025: Grant applications open
- Friday, January 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (PST): Grant applications close
- January – February 2026: Review and selection process
- March 2026: Grantees notified
- March 2026: Workshop dates
- End of April 2026: Organizational Readiness package submission deadline
- May 2026: Grants awarded
This grant is no longer accepting applications
Contact
For any questions or inquiries about this grant opportunity or application process, please contact:
Chantel Spade, Project Manager, Community Action Initiative
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (236) 660-4053
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). (2023). Peer Employment in the Mental Health and Substance Use Sector. Retrieved from: Peer-Employment-Literature-Review_CMHA-BC_2023.pdf
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). (2024). The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024: Mapping the landscape of mental health, addictions and substance use health. Retrieved from: THE STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN CANADA 2024