We’re excited to announce that 18 organizations across BC have been selected to receive funding through the Lived and Living Experience Employment Grant.
Led by Community Action Initiative (CAI) with funding from the Vancouver Foundation, the grant is an opportunity for community-based organizations in BC to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) of mental illness and/or substance use.
The following organizations across BC have been selected to receive $60,000 annual funding for a two-year term through the grant:
- Ruth and Naomi’s Mission (Fraser Health)
- Chawathil First Nation (Fraser Health)
- CEDAR Outreach Society (Fraser Health)
- Muslim Food Bank (Fraser Health)
- ANKORS (AIDS Network Kootenay Outreach and Support Society) (Interior Health)
- The Loops Sex Workers Association (Interior Health)
- AVI Health and Community Services (Island Health)
- Alberni Valley Hospice Society (Island Health)
- Cowichan Housing Association (Island Health)
- Kiwanis Arts Centre Society (Northern Health)
- Takla Nation (Northern Health)
- XaaydaGa Dlaang Society (Northern Health)
- A Better Life Foundation (Vancouver Coastal Health)
- Visible Art Society (Vancouver Coastal Health)
- Urban Native Youth Association (Vancouver Coastal Health)
- ’Wuìk̓inux̌v Nation (Vancouver Coastal Health)
- Connective Support Society (Vancouver Coastal Health)
- Coast Mental Health (Vancouver Coastal Health)
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 a sense of purpose, which contributes to recovery.
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.