Do you have an idea for a project that promotes staying healthy, preventing injury, or preventing disease in your community? Northern Health is now taking applications to provide funding of up to $5,000 for grassroots projects that will improve the well-being of community members across northern BC.
IMAGINE Community Grants provide funding to community organizations, schools or Parent Advisory Councils, service agencies, First Nations bands or organizations, municipalities, regional districts, and other partners with projects that make northern communities healthier. View an interactive Google Map of past Northern Health grant projects.
“Many local governments, community groups, schools, First Nations organizations, and other stakeholders are leaders and promoters of healthy living,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “These groups play a pivotal role in promoting health, preventing injury and chronic disease where residents of northern BC live, work, learn, and play. Supporting their innovative ideas through the IMAGINE grants is another way we are working together towards our shared priorities of healthy early childhood development, injury prevention, mental wellness, and more.”
Aligning with the Healthy Families BC Policy Framework, IMAGINE grants fund community-based projects with a focus on one or more of the following areas:
- Healthy eating and food security
- Physical activity and active living
- Injury prevention
- Tobacco-free communities
- Mental wellness
- Prevention of alcohol-related harm
- Healthy early childhood development
- Healthy aging
“As part of our strategic plan, Northern Health has recommitted to partnering with communities to support people to live well and to prevent disease and injury,” said Dr. Sandra Allison, Northern Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer. “Funding locally-designed projects through the IMAGINE Community Grants allows community members to identify what their community needs, build relationships, promote healthy outcomes, and develop their own skills and capacity. This seed funding is also a valuable tool for groups looking to build on what’s working and to address some of the challenges identified through my recent consultation report on Growing Up Healthy in Northern BC.”
Applicants can apply for funding of up to $5,000 for each project. Preference will be given to projects that encourage different community groups to work together, address something that is missing in the community, help those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable, develop skills and resources in the community, and feature a plan to live on in the community after the funding ends.
Visit Northern Health for more information and to access the IMAGINE Community Grants application guide and form. Information can also be obtained via e-mail at imagine.grants@northernhealth.ca or by phone at 250-565-2131.
Applications are being accepted from March 1, 2017, to March 31, 2017. Projects must end prior to November 30, 2017.
This is the first call for grant applications of 2017. Another cycle for IMAGINE Community Grants funding will be released in the fall.
The most recent cycle of grant funding awarded nearly $250,000 to 68 projects in 29 communities across northern BC last November.