Connect Youth and the YMCA of Eastern Ontario have teamed up.
The two organizations signed an agreement earlier this month that opens the door for homeless youth to access the YMCA facilities in Brockville.
Connect Youth received 20 memberships, at a discounted rate, to hand out to at-risk youth.
Victoria Robertson, Connect Youth Program Manager, says the goal is to reduce barriers that youth may face when trying to access the YMCA or any service with a cost. She noted the new partnership is two-fold. Robertson explained the plan is to expand after-school programming, which currently runs one day per week. She says Connect Youth may add another day where youth can access the YMCA facilities.
Funds to support the partnership came from Making Play Possible, through Children’s Mental Health of Leeds and Grenville.
Robertson noted Connect Youth is seeing an increase in homeless youth and youth accessing services. She explained community partnerships like the one with the YMCA go a long way when it comes to making a difference in the lives of youth.
For more information about Connect Youth, click here.