Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services recognized a $149,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in support of the Riverside Community Hub at their Annual General Meeting and Family Fair on Thursday, September 29.
The Riverside Community Hub will bring the services of ten core community service providers from across the city under one roof in a new, central, purpose-driven facility to make it easier for children, youth and families in Brantford to access mental health and other wellness services.
Flora Ennis, Executive Director at Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services, explained how the funds will positively impact the development of the hub.
“This OTF grant funding has allowed us to move the important work of the Hub Development Committee forward,” Ennis said. “The community engagement work funded through this grant is essential to the project, allowing us to raise community support and awareness, and to ensure the Hub is truly representative of our communities.”
According to Woodview, the goal of the Riverside Community Hub is to create one place for individuals to access a broad range of services seamlessly, while also enjoying greater opportunities for improved mental health, social recreation, relationship building, and belonging. The hub will offer increased accessibility, flexible office spaces, and other elements that would allow them to safely serve clients. The organization said that they hope to break ground on the project in the spring of 2023.
Brantford-Brant member of provincial parliament (MPP) Will Bouma attended the event to recognize the grant and the Riverside Community Hub project.
“I have been advocating from day one for a complete wrap-around hub for physical and mental health promotion to be located under one roof,” said MPP Bouma. “This facility is a huge step forward for our community and I congratulate the Riverside Community Hub for being recognized through this grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.”
The OTF strives to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund.
