Grants help groups build culture of wellness

Supporting Island families -

Six Island community groups have received provincial government funding for projects that promote wellness – including the Brackley Women’s Institute.

The institute’s “Stronger Together” program received one of the 2017-18 Wellness Grants from the province’s Department of Health and Wellness. Project coordinator Marie Kenny said her organization set out this fall to build community spirit, strengthen mental health, and provide women with a social outing in the community.

“We were able to bring together an average of 30 women each week to learn about strengthening one’s mental health and well being, followed by a hands-on activity where everyone got to show their personal creativity and how they are inspired,” Kenny said. “The ladies were challenged to take a positive outlook on life – even in difficult situations – and learned techniques for mental resiliency, to lean on each other for support and that, ultimately, we are stronger together.”

The six projects receiving Wellness Grants this year are:

• new Island-wide self-care training sessions through the Hospice Palliative Care Association of PEI;
• a population health initiative to increase awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and local resources by the PEI Breastfeeding Coalition;
• a school garden expansion program, including curriculum and a community integration project led by Morell Regional High School;
• an expansion of the LGBTQ+ Youth Group being led by PEERS Alliance;
• a new program provided by the Community of Miltonvale Park, aimed to encourage healthy eating and physical activity for all adults and seniors in the community; and
• Brackley Women’s Institute’s “Stronger Together” program, focused on mental health education and art as a tool to promote mental resiliency.

“We are working to promote a culture of wellness in Prince Edward Island,” Health and Wellness Minister Robert Henderson said. “Wellness Grants support community-driven projects that focus on physical activity, living tobacco-free, healthy eating, mental wellness, and consuming alcohol responsibility. We are seeing excellent programs and wonderful initiatives happen all across the province through support of our Wellness Grants.”

Over the past two years, approximately 40 projects have received Wellness Grants; for more information visit www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-and-wellness/what-wellness-grant-program.
 
Media contact:
Autumn Tremere
agtremere@gov.pe.ca