Each year, the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC (BGC) helps more than 10,000 kids and families facing social and economic difficulties. In Surrey, Delta, and Langley, that translates to 300 per day and 1,195 each year. But with ongoing cuts to provincial social services coupled with an increasingly uncertain economy, BGC has recently witnessed a spike in demand for its after-school prevention program.

 

“We have a lot of families with parents working two or three jobs just to make ends meet and put food on the table,” explains Carolyn Tuckwell, president and CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC. “That means their kids are often left to their own devices and don’t get the proper social or educational support they need, ultimately putting them at risk of getting involved with undesirable activities.”

 

Now thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Envision Financial Community Endowment administrated by the First West Foundation, BGC is expanding its After School Prevention Program to ensure all children and families can access their services when and where they need it.

 

“The Clubs are a great place for these kids to come and feel like they belong,” Tuckwell says. “They can have a snack, do some arts and crafts, get help with their homework or just play sports with other kids their age. It’s really a stable and supportive home away from home for them.”

 

The Clubs also offer nutrition and cooking programs, leadership courses and physical activities to promote active lifestyles. The program runs every day after school until dinnertime and is provided at no cost other than a $30 membership fee, which is waived for families facing financial hardship. Carolyn says that while BGC’s ‘all-inclusive’ policy is great for families, it also presents unique financial challenges to the non-profit.

 

“Just 25 percent of our funding comes from government sources, so we really have to rely on individual and corporate donations to raise the rest of the funds. We’re so thankful that organizations like Envision Financial understand the value of these kinds of prevention programs and have chosen to support the work we’re doing.”

 

“Research shows that providing kids with social, recreational and academic programming during those critical after-school hours really does help them lead happier, more productive lives,” adds Seline Kutan, executive director of the First West Foundation. “We’re happy to not only help these kids succeed in life, but also take some pressure off their parents and the community at-large.”

 

The Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC has been serving young people and their families in the Lower Mainland since 1936. Last year alone, 8,000 children, youth, and families benefited from the Club’s various programs, which aim to provide a safe and supportive place for kids to experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop important life-skills. Visit www.bgc-gv.bc.ca to learn more.