The Ontario government’s supports youth safety.
$77,800 OTF Grant from the Ontario Government Gives Supports the Youth Safety
Newmarket, ON – On Tuesday, local MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy met with the team at Women’s Centre of York Region to formally congratulate them on recently receiving a $77,800 Seed grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The year-long grant will be used to create and evaluate new, youth-focused programming that will help build skills to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in young women.
“Organizations like the Women’s Centre of York Region enrich the lives of people in our community while playing a critical role in fostering a safe and supportive environment for young women,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP for Newmarket—Aurora. “With this $77,800 Seed grant from the Ontario government through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, I am confident the Women’s Centre will continue empowering young women aged 16-24, helping them develop leadership skills and create a brighter future for themselves and our community.”
The project will support young women to build strong peer networks, confidence, and skills to recognize and respond to examples of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence. Funds from the grant are being used to involve young women, aged 16-24, in the design, delivery and evaluation of programming that will address healthy boundaries, relationships, effective communication and leadership.
These sessions will be co-designed by youth and the Women’s Centre of York Region, and included social activities like vision boarding, games, self-care routines that incorporated education around how to recognize and respond to gender based violence and intimate partner violence. The grant is contributing to this by helping with some staffing costs, in addition to hosting workshops, developing informational materials, and helping with some administrative costs as well.
“Women’s Centre of York Region has supported women in their greatest time of need, since 1977,” said Nivedita Balachandran, Executive Director, Women’s Centre of York Region. “For decades, we have heard women experiencing abuse and violence say that our programs and services would have helped them avoid abuse if they had known about them at a younger age. This program is pivotal in supporting young women to build the skills and resources to help break the cycle of violence and exploitation among young women.”
Women’s Centre of York Region provides opportunities, support, and resources to women on their journey of self-discovery and empowerment. The organization provides group and individual services to support women and their families experiencing barriers, trauma, or abuse to build a life of safety and well-being. www.wcyr.ca
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.