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Basic needs, Mental health, bright futures

United Way Central Alberta releases new Community Impact Strategy

Feb 2, 2023 | 11:06 AM

United Way Central Alberta (UWCA) says they are pleased to announce the completion of a new Community Impact Strategy.

Officials say after several months of community conversations and deliberations involving the volunteer-led Community Impact Council and UWCA staff, it was decided how the organization could best position itself to improve lives in the region.

“The guiding force in updating the Community Impact Strategy is the goal of working towards equity,” said Chelsea O’Donoghue, UWCA Chief Executive Officer. “We are seizing the opportunity to be a better collaborator to help create communities where everyone can thrive and at the same time recognize that everyone needs different things in order to reach their potential.”

The Strategy focuses on ensuring access to basic needs, increasing access to suitable mental health services, and creating brighter futures.

UWCA officials say central Alberta’s population has grown in size since 2017 and the pandemic adversely affected many communities in the region. They say they believed it was time to learn from the community to determine how UWCA might better help improve lives locally.

With changes to the federal Income Tax Act, the UWCA says they can now fund more agencies. In the past, they say smaller nonprofit agencies without registered charity status couldn’t receive UWCA funding. Now, new legislation allows UWCA to fund many more groups supporting individuals in communities across the region through grants. Granting streams are scheduled to begin opening March 13, 2023.

For more information, the new Community Impact Strategy is available on the UWCA website caunitedway.ca.