Non-Profit Organizations Funded through PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being’s 2022 Summer Grant Cycle

Charlottetown, PEI – The PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being is pleased to announce that seven non-profit organizations have been funded through the 2022 summer cycle of its Focusing Action for Positive Change Grant Program. This summer cycle, which ran from June 9 to September 14, sought applications for two specific streams: Innovation Grants and Creating Connections Grants.  

Since its launch in 2021, the Alliance’s Grant Program has worked to help non-profit organizations in PEI: 

  • Enhance existing initiatives and create innovative solutions to strengthen the factors that build individual, family or community resilience; 
  • Support capacity-building and raise awareness of the connection between resilience and mental well-being, based on science; 
  • Assess, learn, evaluate and share resilience-building best practices and their impact on PEI; 
  • Generate and amplify cross-sector and cross-PEI initiatives to align and integrate preventative approaches. 

The projects and initiatives that received funding for the 2022 summer cycle include: 

  • Island Nature Trust: Empowering Youth in Nature to Promote Connection, Creativity and Mental Well-Being – $45,000 (Innovation Grant) 

This project aims to engage young Islanders through nature and storytelling to promote mental well-being and resilience during significant climate change and biodiversity loss.

  • Lung Association of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island: Engaging Youth Stakeholders in Youth Vaping Harm Reduction – $48,840 (Creating Connections Grant) 

This project will build on the Lung Association’s “Exploring Youth Vaping/Smoking Cessation and Prevention on PEI” work from 2022. It will see research findings shared through professional and interactive resources and discussed at twelve community gatherings that represent a cross-section of youth-serving organizations.

  • Association for Community Living PEI and Your Life Design Inc.: Building Resilience in PEI Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and or ASD – $49,180 (Innovation Grant) 

This project aims to build resilience in adults with intellectual disabilities and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through one-on-one sessions with therapists from Your Life Design Inc.

  • Native Council of PEI: Building Indigenous Resilience and Community Healing (BIRCH) – $50,000 (Innovation Grant) 

This project aims to increase the capacity of the Native Council as an organization that offers mental health and addictions programming to its membership. It will expand the capacity of frontline programming staff to address sources of stress and build resilience at work and in their personal lives.

  • PEI Coalition for Women In Government and Federation of PEI Municipalities: Fostering Resilience in Women Municipal Leaders – $50,000 (Creating Connections Grant) 

This project will evaluate and support the mental well-being of women municipal councillors and mayors in their first year following municipal elections. It will do so through four quarterly sessions that are focused on the three core action areas of the Alliance’s Grant Program and a series of virtual webinars. At the end of the project, a report with recommendations will be made.

  • The River Clyde Pageant and New Glasgow Community Corporation: Winter Workshops and Solstice Walks in New Glasgow – $50,000 (Creating Connections Grant) 

This project will create multi-generational workshops for fall and winter community arts programming, culminating in the presentation of an annual Solstice Walk that illuminates the community of New Glasgow on the darkest night of the year.

  • Generation XX and Parkview Seniors: Social Activities for Seniors – $48,500 (Creating Connections Grant) 

This project will see youth from Generation XX aid in the development and creation of  a chair yoga program for seniors in Summerside, further enhancing an existing relationship between the two generations. The program will focus primarily on socialization and maintaining well-being, while aiding with additional resources for skill building and leading healthy lives.

 

“We received many strong applications throughout our summer cycle, and we are pleased to be supporting such timely and original projects and initiatives,” said Karen Cumberland, Executive Director. “The intent of this funding is to allow organizations and groups to focus their programming on strengthening resilience and mental well-being. There is a great passion from these recipients to ensure their communities have access to tailored resources that can help them. We look forward to following their progress over the next year.”  

 

Quick Facts 

 

  • The PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being is a non-profit organization with a goal of ensuring all people living in PEI have an equal opportunity to achieve and maintain the best possible mental well-being throughout their lifetime.  
  • Since launching its Focusing Action for Positive Change Grant Program in 2021, the Alliance has provided funding to over 35 non-profit organizations for resilience-strengthening projects and initiatives.  
  • Each funded project or initiative from the Grant Program must focus on one or more of the following core action areas that are evidence-based: supporting responsive relationships, strengthening core life skills, and reducing sources of toxic stress.  

Media Contact

Email: Communications@AllianceForMentalWellBeing.com
Telephone: 902 330 0225

Contact: Molly Pendergast – Communications Officer