Community groups and service providers are banding together to better serve the growing western communities.
Called the Village Initiative, its premise is that B次元官网网址渋t takes a village to raise a child,B次元官网网址� according to director Cindy Andrew. Andrew said the focus is to ensure that there are enough public spaces for community groups to run programs for kids.
When a survey was conducted last year looking at community groupsB次元官网网址� ability to provide services, 15 different groups said space was the biggest barrier to providing services. Based on that survey, Andrew estimated those groups could provide activities and services for 8,500 more people if there were more community spaces.
B次元官网网址淪chools provide vital service. In many respects working in partnership with community partners to better meet needs, just makes good sense. So itB次元官网网址檚 not rocket science and itB次元官网网址檚 not like people havenB次元官网网址檛 been collaborating B次元官网网址� I think thereB次元官网网址檚 just a recognition that with growing investment we need to look at how do we do things differently to make sure that weB次元官网网址檙e better meeting the needs and keeping pace with growth.B次元官网网址�
The Village Initiative is a network of more than 40 community service organizations, including the Sooke School District, Island Health, and United Way South Vancouver Island B次元官网网址� the organizationB次元官网网址檚 main funder. Initially, the organization had been branded Healthy Schools, Healthy People, but Andrew said that narrowed the focus too much towards schools.
The organization wonB次元官网网址檛 become a service provider itself, but Andrew said they are set to advocate for more spaces and work on making more community spaces multi-purpose and encouraging community groups to share space.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to take people being creative, itB次元官网网址檚 going to take service providers saying weB次元官网网址檙e willing, weB次元官网网址檒l share space. The problem is when youB次元官网网址檙e talking about services that are geared to children, youth and families, they often run at about the same time. So sharing space B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 a challenge B次元官网网址� but I think thereB次元官网网址檚, thereB次元官网网址檚 a need for us to get creative to explore doing things differently.B次元官网网址�
Andrew said the organization would try to work with all levels of government but is focused on local solutions.
B次元官网网址淭he one thing that I think that people need to be thinking about B次元官网网址� in particular municipalities B次元官网网址� are we keeping pace on the health and social planning front of growing our communities? And if weB次元官网网址檙e not, we need to because there are some flags on the field that are indicating weB次元官网网址檝e got work to do.B次元官网网址�
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bailey.moreton@goldstreamgazette.com
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