Brightside Youth Hub Set To Become Fully Funded

Monday, 15 April 2024 14:17

The Brightside Youth Hub is receiving funding through YWHO, aiming to support youth through mental health supports, education, employment, and more.

WOODSTOCK - Woodstock's Brightside Youth Hub is set to become fully funded through the province's Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) program.

YWHO is designed to support local service providers to work together in providing young people in Ontario with access to a full range of integrated services that support their individual needs. This includes mental health and substance use supports, primary care, education, employment, housing and other social services.

Executive Director with Wellkin Child & Youth Mental Wellness, Kelly Baker, says they're thrilled that the hub will be joining the program.

"There are 27 of these hubs throughout the province and it keeps growing. We're thrilled that Oxford County has been chosen as one of the next 5 to become a fully funded hub."

Brightside Youth Hub says that it's a one-stop-shop for youth to get access to the services they need, when they need them, under one roof, at the right place and time, all of which are provided at no cost. Baker says that the funding gives them a lot of potential to expand.

"This recognition by YWHO will give us the legs we need to get this thing much bigger. Whether its 5 days a week, or adding evening hours, weekend hours, just the opportunity is phenomenal to provide the support that children and youth in our community need."

Even with the exciting announcement for the team, Baker says they still have priorities that they need to be focusing on to continue to adapt and improve.

"We need to expand, we need to grow, and we need a home base. One of the next steps is finding a location or more than one that is affordable and accessible with transit, all of those things we have to take into account. One of our top priorities now will be finding a spot or those spots."

Brightside has drop-in services and scheduled activities every Wednesday from 2-5pm, at 40 Metcalf St. here in Woodstock. More details on Woodstock's Brightside Youth Hub can be found on their website, with more information on YWHO able to be found on their website.