If you have any ideas about staying healthy or how to prevent injury or disease, Northern Health has the community grant application for you.
IMAGINE Community Grants up to $5,000 are available for grassroots projects that will improve the well-being of community members across northern B.C.
IMAGINE Community Grants continue to fund various community organizations including schools, parent advisory councils, service agencies, First Nations bands or organizations, municipalities, regional districts and other partners that continue to help keep northern communities healthy.
"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, chief medical officer at Northern Health.
"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."
IMAGINE grants fund community-based projects with a focus in areas such as: 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 and healthy aging.
In November, grant funding awarded about $250,000 to 68 projects in 29 communities throughout northern B.C.
Applicants can apply for funding of up to $5,000 for each project.
According to Northern Health, 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.
Applications are being accepted from March 1-31. Projects must end prior to Nov. 30.
This is the first request for grant applications for 2017 and the next cycle for IMAGINE Community grants funding will be released in the fall.
For more information and for application forms, visit northern health.ca/YourHealth/HealthyLivingCommunities/ImagineGrants.aspx.
Interested parties may also obtain more information via email at imagine.grants@northernhealth.ca or by phone at: (250) 565-2131.
