KidStart in Metro Vancouver
| We have recruited volunteers to coash vulnterable teens in the youth justice system since the late-1970's. By the mid-1980's, we had a team of 40 - 50 volunteers with one staff coordinator/supervisor. Referrals of youth came from probation officers In 1988, retired probation officer Bernie Agg and businessman and former Big Brother Alasdair Gordon proposed that PLEA establish a similar program for younger children who might otherwise "fall through the cracks" of the service system. Service would be free and open to any child whose parent approved of participation in the program. Mr. Gordon donated the start-up funds and remains, to this day, a generous benefactor. At PLEA we were motivated by our experience working with young people more seriously entrenched in the justice system and anticipated the benefits of being able to support kids at an earlier age. There was a strong demand for the new service and the program continued to grow. Unfortunately, the wait list always exceeded our capacity and we constantly sought ways to expand. In 1999, the Chris Spencer Foundation provided us with a significant grant to help fund a growth strategy. We haven't looked back. Today, KidStart is a vibrant program with many aspects. We continue to provide service to teens referred by Vancouver Coastal youth probation officers and, in the City of Vancouver, we are approved for police diversions of youth. We provide service to teens referred by social workers and probation officers in the Tri-Cities and Ridge Meadows communities. We provide service to kids referred by Family Services of Greater Vancouver. And, thanks to our many individual, corporate and foundation donors, we provide service to children 6+ throughout Greater Vancouver - and now Victoria and Campbell River - whose parents access the program voluntarily, and who otherwise would be unable to do so. KidStart's further growth and sustainability was supported further through the 2005 Vancity Award. There are many important supporters who are instrumental in our success, and we invite you to visit our donor recognition page on this site to find out who they are! |
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