Vernon’s Archway Society for Domestic Peace is receiving a significant funding boost to help children in the North Okanagan who have experienced abuse, as well as people who have suffered from domestic violence.
The B.C. government is providing nearly $9.7 million in one-time grants to support projects to address criminal activity in communities, assist people experiencing gender-based violence and support Indigenous peoples recovering from trauma.
“Children are some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and that’s why it’s important that we take actions to protect them,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee. “I’m grateful for the work of Archway Society for Domestic Peace, and know that their Youth Advocacy Centre will support kids who have experienced trauma or violence, allowing them to thrive.”
Archway is receiving $140,000 so that its Oak Child and Youth Advocacy Centre can continue to provide skilled, wrap-around trauma-informed services to children and youth who have experienced crime.
Province wide, 197 community projects are being funded, and some of that $9.7 million in funding is going towards police equipment and training.
Civil forfeiture grants are funds that go back into communities from seized proceeds of crimes and illegal activity. The projects are being led by local governments, not-for-profits, school districts, health authorities, academic institutions, police departments and Indigenous organizations.
The Civil Forfeiture Grant Program provides funding to support community safety related projects throughout B.C. through six funding streams that align with government commitments in various areas related to public safety. These streams include gender-based violence, crime prevention, Indigenous healing, restorative justice, domestic violence and intervention programming and child and youth advocacy centres.
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