Stuck for ideas for what to do with the kids now school’s out for summer? Never fear, The Village has come to the rescue – proving it truly does take one to raise a child.
The organization has compiled a list of free and low-cost summer programs available to children, youth and families in the West Shore and Sooke.
The list, created with Greater Victoria Public Library, includes family fun events, such as movies on the hill behind Juan de Fuca Library, summer reading clubs, sporting activities and much more.
It also gives information about food security programs in the region for households that may need a little extra help this summer.
The idea for the list was sparked by requests from front-line professionals working with young people and families seeking similar resources, explains Cindy Andrew, The Village’s director of community partnerships.
“It is not rocket science,” she says. “But if you were to ask two months ago for a list that's regional in scope that provides low-cost, free stuff for summer, the answer would have been no.”
By pulling the information together, busy parents and caregivers are saved time searching for what’s available in their community, Andrew says.
“It's not a perfect first kick at the can, but it's 100 per cent better than what was there before,” she said. “It's the beginning of something.”
The summer resource is just one example of The Village’s work to better support the health and well-being of children, youth and families across the West Shore-Sooke region.
With a network of over 70 organizations – including Sooke School District, Island Health and local municipalities – The Village fosters connections between each one, encouraging a more regional, collaborative approach to service provision.
Like a “dating service” for West Shore and Sooke groups, Andrew jokes.
“No one organization or system can do all that's necessary to help kids flourish,” says Andrew. “Hence the name ‘Village’.”
And with a “tremendous number of services and supports available” in the community, Andrew says The Village is building on the strength that already exists.
"We're resource-rich in many regards," she says. "But getting people in a room together, helping them find a shared understanding of who does what and where – it creates opportunities for enhanced coordination, if not collaboration.
“That's just a little step in the right direction.”
It is hoped that by bringing the services together, the region will be better equipped to meet the ever-increasing demand of the growing population.
And The Village is ready for the challenge, with multiple irons in the fire.
In addition to a service providers' networking event in the fall, the organization will soon host a meeting with key food security service providers, helping them brainstorm ways to work better together.
The Village has also prioritized finding a solution to the "chronic shortage of suitable space" for non-profit organizations – searching for a suitable location for a building that could house multiple services.
“From silos to synergy,” says Andrew hopefully.
To explore the list of free and low-cost summer programs across the West Shore and Sooke, visit: thevillageinitiative.ca/events.
