A $9-million provincial investment in Foundry’s Work and Education program is expanding it to six more Foundry centres in addition to sustaining the program at 12 existing centres and through Foundry’s provincial virtual service.

The program provides integrated and personal wraparound assistance to people age 15 to 24, including health, mentoring, education, skills development and job-placement services.

“Employment can be a powerful tool of recovery and wellness, which is why we are taking action to help more young people get access to employment services and education,” said Sheila Malcolmson, B.C. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “We’re expanding Foundry’s Work and Education program to six more communities, so more young people get life-changing, local and personal employment supports.”

The free program provides individualized supports and counselling to help youth explore their interests and develop the skills they need though various one-on-one interventions, workshops, post-secondary education or certification programs to achieve education or career goals.

Foundry centres in Sea to Sky (Squamish), Cariboo Chilcotin (Williams Lake), East Kootenay (Cranbrook), Surrey (once open), Langley and Port Hardy are joining Foundry centres in Abbotsford, Campbell River, Kelowna, North Shore, Prince George, Vancouver-Granville, Victoria, Ridge Meadows, Penticton, Richmond, Terrace and the Comox Valley. In addition, the program will be offered through Foundry’s virtual service.

In 2021, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction contributed $5.1 million toward the launch of Foundry’s Work and Education program. Since then, the program has supported approximately 550 young people every year through its provincial virtual services and at existing centres. With this expansion, the program is expected to support more than 800 young people each year with their social and emotional well-being, work toward education goals, improve their employment readiness and achieve success in the labour market.

Interested people can contact their nearest Foundry to inquire about participating in the program and do not need a referral from another organization.

Foundry is a provincewide network of integrated youth wellness centres where young people can access a variety of wraparound supports and services, including individualized mental- health care, substance-use services, physical and sexual health care and social services, as well as youth and family peer supports. There are 18 Foundry centres open in the province and 17 more in development. Referrals are not required to visit a centre or to receive online support, and all services are free and confidential.

To learn more about Foundry, visit: https://foundrybc.ca/get-support