Learning through giving back: Seton Community Complex   

"When I try to think of something that gives me joy with the youth centre, allows me to look at all these hours as a volunteer and say "yes", this is why I do this. There are so many different moments that pop into my head. I honestly think the biggest thing for me and why I do what I do is because we teach our youth many valuable skills. They teach us so much as well.

Kids do not see differences, disabilities, speech impediments or cultures...."

-- Paige Cox (Youth Programming Coordinator, Seton Community Complex)

2024 Federal Budget

Last month the federal government release their most recent budget and while it is clear that more work is needed to advocate for increased investment in our sector, particularly in the areas of youth employment, funding reform and workforce strategy, there were a number of wins for NACY members and the sector more broadly.

• $500 million for a new Youth Mental Health Fund.
• $7.5 million over three years, starting in 2024-2025, to the Public Health Agency of Canada to support Kids Help Phone provide mental health, counselling, and crisis support to young people.
• $400,000 to Volunteer Canada in the development of the organizations National Volunteer Action Strategy.
• $9.5 million to Pathways to Education to support youth in low-income communities, helping them graduate high school and build a successful future.

Here is what the sector has been saying in response to the 2024 budget.

• Supporting a thriving community services sector: a response to Budget 2024 (United Way Centraide)
• Budget 2024: Will a heightened recognition of nonprofits & charities clear a path toward foundational sector reforms? (Imagine Canada)

Policy Updates and More

• Child care advocates say Budget 2024 takes a pivotal step towards making $10 A Day available to all. Read media release from Child Care Now.
• Generations may collide in the non-profit sector, but many challenges remain eternal in the latest analysis by The Philanthropist Journal.
• Recent CBC survey reveals a 35% surge in child-care spaces across Metro Vancouver from 2019 to 2023.
• The Youth Mental Health Crisis - Owen Charters (President & CEO, BGC Canada).

Bills We're Talking About

• Bill S-251: An Act to repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s call to action number 6)

• Bill C-273: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (Corinne’s Quest and the protection of children)

Funding Opportunities

• Supporting Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC) with Employment Assistance Services (EAS) funding assists Quebec and Francophone communities outside Quebec. Apply by June 20, 2024 @ 1:00 PM EDT.
• Equitable Access to Reading Program (EARP). For projects deisgned to increase the production of alternate format reaching materials for persons with print disabilities. Due June 19th, 2024. 

Professional Development & Opportunities

• Is your nonprofit ready to outsource? FREE guide by Ontario Nonprofit Network helps with top non-core functions to outsource, when to make the move, and key considerations. 
• New initiative by PolicyWise for Children & Families provides evidence-based information on gender-diverse youth. Explore resources here.

• The full schedule for The Future of Good 2024 Social Finance Forum is now available here.

• Data strategy guides NAFC's journey to urban Indigenous information leadership. They're hosting a Data Gathering in early 2024 to pinpoint key indicators for advocacy. Interested? Contact.

• Join CCVO for a Lunch and Learn event by The Kahanoff Centre for Charitable Activities on Facing the Storm: State of the Sector report.