June 6, 2023 4:37pm
A pair of youth centers in Chatham-Kent are taking a new approach in offering more programming for families and children after school.
The Blenheim Youth Center and the Tilbury Solid Rock Cafe share a similar mission when it comes to providing a safe environment for youth to engage.
The two centers have partnered up for a “one mission, two sites” approach.
Emily Robert, executive director of the Blenheim Youth Centre, said there has never been a collaboration for as long as the youth centers have been around in Chatham-Kent.
She said each center knew the other existed, but never interacted with one another or shared resources and networks.
“We run our programming on five pillars,” said Robert. “They include recreation and leisure, civil engagement, arts and culture, leadership and life skills development, and education and employment.”
In April, the youth centers received a $77,200 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The funds were used to provide staff at the Tilbury centre, establish fundraising initiatives, and overall plan moving forward, in order to expand their reach in the community.
“This grant has allowed both youth centers to expand capacity and knowledge of community needs, gaps, opportunities for growth, and embark on a stronger partnership between both communities,” said Robert.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, both organizations were completely closed to in-person for 17 months. Since then, both organizations have seen pre-COVID-19 numbers.
Robert said the center in Tilbury had seen 115 new youth members who had never used the center before. In May, the organization saw 46 youths utilize the space for that month alone. On a daily basis, about 15 youths came through the doors.
In Blenheim, the center has seen 162 new youth members sign up. For the month of May, the youth center saw 106 youths access the center. On a daily basis, an average of 20 youths use the space.
“Working on a single mission, a two-site approach has allowed us to create a larger, more long-term impact on the community,” said Robert.
