A new round of grants through the United Way is available for non profit organizations in the central and north Island region. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

SERVICE DELIVERY

Over $1.1 million in federal funding eyed for central and north Island non-profits

Jan 8, 2023 | 8:41 AM

NANAIMO — It’s a major chunk of change which is hoped to bridge the gap between vulnerable people and vital services.

United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island (UWCNVI) has opened applications for their Community Services Recovery Fund, a $400 million cash injection from the federal government of which just over $1.1 million is earmarked for Island communities north of the Malahat.

Julie Rushton, UWCNVI’s community impact and investment manager, said the money is targeted toward pandemic recovery and helping area non-profits adapt their service delivery into a new era.

“Those who were vulnerable before the pandemic, that has increased substantially. Organizations are…looking at the need of moving their services into more electronic-type version so people who are needing to have remote access to services, those things are available.”

Population growth and staffing shortages are seen as two of many challenges for the region’s charities and non-profits.

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Applications for funding opened Friday, Jan. 6 and will run through Feb. 21.

From there, United Way will decide how best to distribute the money for it to have the greatest impact.

“How can we support those organizations to really understand the needs of those they are serving and provide services that are supportive of recovery through this pandemic.”

A big focus for the fund this time is on smaller rural communities, where service delivery may be less or non-existent.

Connecting residents there to services, either in person or online, based in larger centres will go a long way to bridging current gaps.

Past rounds of funding have seen money devoted to food security projects as well.

Two webinar information sessions are scheduled for Monday, Jan. 9 and Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Applications, links to the webinars or more information on the fund is available on the United Way BC website.

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