Battlefords Concern For Youth asks for $18K in funding support from Battleford Town Council. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

CFY funding

Concern For Youth asks for $18K in funding from Battleford Council

Nov 7, 2023 | 8:04 AM

When Linda Coe-Kirkham, executive director of Battlefords Concern for Youth made her organization’s request for funding support from Battleford Town Council, it seemed like a straightforward presentation.

When she told the story of one of their youth – a 13-year-old who was the primary caregiver to nine younger siblings – the councillors were in disbelief.

“This summary (presentation package) also identifies some of the trends we’re observing. More and more referrals are coming from grandparents, we’re observing we have more and more kids who are not in school,” she said referring to the caregiving duties.

The non-profit asked for support for the 2024-25 fiscal year at the Battleford Town Council meeting on Monday.

The organization has faced rapid change this past year and is asking for $18,000.

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“Given the past year of transition, I think we have come sort of full circle to a point where we are really starting to develop some growth and respond to the interests and the needs of the kids that need support in the Battlefords,” said Linda Coe-Kirkham, executive director of the organization.

The presentation laid out their situation and new strategic plan that now includes four full-time staff expanded mentorship and programs. Coe-Kirkham presented a summary of the numbers to help “justify” her ask as the funding request is larger than in previous years.

“We presently have 95 youth who are actively involved in programs and that is more than double what we had this time last year,” she said.

As part of the 34-year-old program, they have increased mentor matches and currently have over 20 children paired with a mentor.

“We’re running out of space where we are right now, juggling certainly what we can with trying to keep a ratio of one staff person to five youth at a time,” she said, noting they are now getting younger referrals.

The organization works directly with children and youth between the ages of five to 19 and according to the agenda package, the group is exploring the conversation of relocating to the Town of Battleford. According to the breakdown, $13,650 will pay one-third of a full-time “new program/mentorship position,” $1,400 will go toward transportation costs, and $1,150 or 25 per cent of the overall budget will go toward “program-specific snack/meal life skills instructional support” and $1,800 will go towards a “mentorship gift card.”

“With the ask that we’ve made to council, I think it’s really relevant to point out to you that we as an organization have become very proactive in terms of trying to get some active volunteers involved with fundraising,” said Coe-Kirkham.

Following the presentation, councillors took time to ask questions, with a couple expressing shock at the increase in numbers and Councillor David George asked about supports from the schools. Coe-Kirkham replied that their mentors are in contact with the support staff and in fact, get several referrals from the schools.

“Do we have support in terms of getting – like doing any activity in a school, no we don’t,” she said.

“One of the gaps is a lot of those kids that are not doing well at school aren’t able to get involved in the extracurricular stuff ‘cause they don’t have a ride home or the family supports that will get them there,” Coe-Kirkham added.

“We pick a lot of youth up right from the schools.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @jls194864