Several Community Groups to Benefit from Provincial Wellness Grants
Health and Community Services
Tourism, Culture and Recreation
March 17, 2010
The Williams Government is continuing its commitment to improve health and wellness in Newfoundland and Labrador by awarding 35 Provincial Wellness Grants to community groups throughout the province. The grants, which are a key component of the Provincial Wellness Strategy, total $579,750.
The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, today presented one of the grants to the Boys and Girls Club of St. John’s. Funding of $40,000 will support Blast Off to Wellness. The project is designed to engage children and youth in a wide range of physical activities and educational sessions, and to foster a positive environment in which children can grow into healthy adults.“These grants reach out to all regions of the province and the projects being funded show a remarkable diversity in the size and scope,” said Minister Kennedy. “Fostering and improving wellness in Newfoundland and Labrador is a priority for this government, and we are committed to funding projects that achieve that goal.”
Proposals for Provincial Wellness Grants are assessed based on a number of criteria including, community involvement to improve well-being; developing skills and knowledge within the community; and building on existing strengths in the community.
“Regular physical activity is an integral component of overall wellness, so we are pleased to see support for several projects which are designed to increase activity levels amongst our citizens – particularly such under-represented groups as senior citizens, females, and Aboriginal groups,” said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. “These grants are consistent with the goals of the province’s recreation and sport strategy, Active, Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador, and provide further encouragement for our citizens to engage in healthier lifestyles.”
The aim of the Provincial Wellness Plan, launched in 2006, is to improve the overall health and wellness of the province’s population by focusing on health promotion and by strengthening community action towards wellness priorities. The wellness grants further the goal of the plan by focusing on projects that put an emphasis on healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco control and child and youth development, as well as a number of other wellness initiatives.
“It is very important that our youth understand the benefits of physical activity to their mental health and social well-being,” said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, MHA for St. John’s Centre. “I am pleased that the Boys and Girls Club of St. John’s has developed Blast off to Wellness. I believe this program will help address physical fitness needs through activities which will improve overall physical health but are also fun enough to keep the youth wanting to participate. Our government recognizes that healthy bodies and healthy minds lead to healthy societies.”
Provincial Wellness Grants to be awarded this year range from $5,000 to $40,000 depending on the size and scope of the project. Over the last six years, 120 groups have received approximately $2.5 million through the Provincial Wellness Grants Program.
Complementary to these grants, the Provincial Government recently announced an investment of $247,000 to several community groups with a focus on food security issues. This is part of an annual investment of $4.1 million under the Provincial Wellness Plan.
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Media contacts:
Jennifer Tulk
Communications Manager
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1399, 699-6524
JenniferTulk[at]gov.nl.ca
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay[at]gov.nl.ca
Veronica Hayden
Executive Assistant for
Honourable Shawn Skinner, MHA for St. John’s Centre
709-729-2568
vhayden[at]gov.nl.ca
