‘Exploring all options’
Organization looking to bring LGBTQ+ youth program to Summerside
The Island’s PEERS Alliance is working on bringing their LGBTQ+ youth program to Summerside, but don’t have a firm plan or timeline yet. Angele Des Roches, program co-ordinator, said they’ve been in talks with a few different organizations about getting the program delivered to the area.
“It’s definitely in the works and something that we recognize needs to happen.” PEERS Alliance (previously known as AIDS P.E.I.) recently hosted a training program on youth engagement and patient skills and had five community volunteers from the Summerside area participate.
It’s essentially a funding issue as to why it hasn’t made an appearance in the western part of the Island yet, noted Des Roches.
Right now, the youth group they run in Charlottetown is funded through assistance from the federal government and through a short-term wellness grant.
“We’re looking for other funding opportunities that would help resource delivering sessions in Summerside.” Meanwhile, the sessions held in Charlottetown get participants from all over the Island, even though the majority of attendees are from the capital city vicinity. But folks are travelling from as far away as Tignish and Morell when they’re able to get a ride in to participate in the group, Des Roches said.
“We know we’re not reaching everyone. We know we need to be in other communities, but it is a resource and capacity issue.”
While continuing the hunt for more funding to resource the Charlottetown group, conversations are ongoing with folks in Summerside about how they can generate funds to launch there.
They’re exploring all options, she said, such as “grant opportunities that are provided by other community granting agencies as well as government departments that may have community grant programs.”
As it stands right now, participants are enthused by the program, Des Roches said. Looking at the youth group itself, they’ve had 42 Island youth engaged in the program since it launched in August 2016.
“We average about 11 folks per session, which is a great size for a two-hour youth meeting.” Their first adult program meeting recently had 33 people attend.
“We know there’s an appetite for community building events and opportunities for folks to get together.”