The South Fraser Community Services Society has been providing food, shelter and most importantly, hope and support, to the region’s most vulnerable citizens for more than nineteen years. “According to the last Regional Homeless Count conducted in 2008, there are more than 300 homeless individuals in Surrey, many of whom have mental health issues and struggle with addiction,” said Shayne Williams, executive director, SFCSS.
 

“The Society operates over 17 programs, including a free medical clinic, a resource centre and a food bank, to support these individuals and help them work towards healthier and safer lifestyles.”  These essential programs consume the majority of the Society’s budget, leaving a modest amount to cover the extensive training and workshops required for staff and volunteers.
 
“We understand that budgets for training are often limited because the funds are so desperately needed in many other areas,” said Seline Kutan, executive director, First West Foundation. “We also understand that training is critical to the ongoing success of organizations such as the South Fraser Community Services Society and we are pleased to support their efforts in this regard with a $9,929 Envision Financial Community Endowment grant.”
 
The grant from the First West Foundation’s Envision Financial Community Endowment will provide training to certify an internal Crisis Prevention Trainer who will help decrease the number of crisis-related incidents within the Society’s projects, train new hires and hone the skills of current staff members, reducing future training costs. Additionally, the grant will fund internal workshops and teamwork exercises to certify both staff and key volunteers in Mental Health Training to increase their awareness of mental health issues and help them navigate the system to get people the help they need.
 
“Because of this generous funding from the Envision Financial Community Endowment, we have trained 51 individuals with more to be trained in 2012, who will help us deliver our programs more effectively and help ensure the success and sustainability of our organization,” furthers Williams. “The training has given our staff and volunteers more confidence to challenge the difficult issues and advocate for services that our clients require, and we are already witnessing a decrease in crisis-related incidents within our projects that will undoubtedly continue with further training.”
 
The South Fraser Community Services Society is a non-profit, charity organization, located in North Surrey that was established in 1992 to serve the needs of disadvantaged populations throughout Metro Vancouver. The Society delivers 17 programs, covering two areas of service: Health Services and Homeless Services, and is maximizing the potential of community members through the provision of services and support. For more information on the Society and their programs or to make a donation, please visit www.southfraserservices.bc.ca.