The Youth Enhancement Fund provides money for special expenses not covered by government funds, including urgent dental care, eyeglasses, and short-term courses required for employment.

Last year, 52 youth accessed the Youth Enhancement Fund.

Recently, the Youth Enhancement Fund has paid for:

A university application fee for a youth in high school living on Income Assistance and working part-time

Food for a family's Christmas

Work clothing for a youth's first job

A Food Safe course fee for a youth looking to work in food service

JHSNI's KidStart Mentoring Program is a preventative program that matches volunteer adult mentors with children and youth ages 6-12 who may be vulnerable to crime, substance misuse, family crisis, abuse, or struggling in school.

34 Mentors volunteered 5808 hours last year.

"My mentor is friendly and really caring. She always asks how things are going. It's even funner than I thought it was going to be!"

12-year-old mentee

26 kids are currently matched with mentors in Campbell River, and 40 kids are waiting to be matched.

"Life is tough right now. My girls mean everything to me, but I just can't give them everything they need. I can't say how much it means to me to have their buddies there for them."

Dad of two participants, ages 8 & 10

11 kids are currently matched with mentors in Courtenay, and 55 kids are waiting to be matched.