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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 3, 2009 · 40 Your Halton Connection April `09 www.halton.ca and Voluntary Sector by Regional Chair Gary Carr At a time when more people are turning to nonprofit agencies for services and support we are reminded of the important role that non-profit and volunteer agencies play in our lives. This sector provides vital services that contribute to the social, economic and cultural fabric of our communities. It is a sector that faces significant challenges. Many organizations have experienced diminished funding in recent years as well as other challenges such as difficulty in recruiting and retaining volunteers. These issues become very critical when the demand for services increases due to the impact of a declining economy. As part of Halton Region's 2006-2010 Strategic Plan, Halton Region identified a number of objectives specific to the nonprofit and voluntary sector. Many of the activities we have done with the sector in recent years are directly related to the recommendations which came out of consultations with over 500 stakeholders from the non-profit and voluntary sector. As a result of the consultations, a community plan was developed that focused on building a stronger and more sustainable nonprofit and voluntary sector in Halton The key to our success in implementing our strategic directions is the ability to work collectively with non-profit and voluntary agencies to address the challenges facing this sector. I would like to highlight a few of the initiatives that occurred in 2008 and as recently as February 2009. Facts & Figures Canada is home to of which are run solely by Halton Region Community Investment Fund Halton Region has a new investment fund that will provide $250,000 of multi-year, stable funding for community based programs in Halton that align with Halton Region's Health and Social Strategic Directions. The fund will help non-profit and voluntary sector community groups that contribute to the health and quality of life for people living in Halton. This fund is important because it will invest in programs that make a positive impact on families and helps us work towards our Regional goal of making our community safe, healthy, inclusive and liveable. contribute two billion hours of time each year--the time jobs. In addition to contributing Volunteerism and Social Planning As part of our commitment to strengthening the non-profit and voluntary sector, we are supporting social planning and volunteerism through the work of Community Development Halton. In 2009 we increased our annual funding for Community Development Halton from $110,000 to $225,000, with $50,000 dedicated to supporting social planning activities and $175,000 to support their Volunteer Halton program. Volunteer Halton is entirely focused on the growth and development of the volunteer sector. This is critical because a healthy community by necessity requires active and committed volunteers. two million jobs to the Canadian economy. Halton estimates that in people. It is estimated that nonorganizations account for Halton Funders Network Halton Region is a member of the Halton Funders Network, a group of funders in Halton that work collaboratively on issues of importance to the non-profit and voluntary sector. The network recently supported the Leadership Matters Forum, a day long series of leadership training and workshops for community leaders and volunteers from the non-profit sector as well as students from Sheridan College. Organizations such as Bay Area Leadership, Halton Region, Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions, Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton, United Way of Oakville, and Volunteer Halton provided resources and jointly planned the leadership development opportunity. Leadership is essential to building strong communities. The investment in this area will continue with an evening session in April that will focus on leadership training for Boards of Directors from the non-profit and voluntary sector. These initiatives all demonstrate the importance of strategic partnerships and how Halton Region is working with partners to meet Regional strategic goals. Volunteers are truly the heart of our community. They help make Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. For more information, please visit www.halton.ca. Volunteer and Feel the Magic In 2008, Halton Region, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (Employment Ontario); Volunteer Halton; the Halton Association of Volunteer Administrators; and the United Ways of Burlington & Greater Hamilton, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville, launched the `Volunteer and...Feel the Magic' campaign to encourage Halton residents to get involved in their community by volunteering with a local non-profit or voluntary organization. Halton Region is home to approximately 2,000 community organizations that make up its non-profit and voluntary sector. Organizations in this sector operate across a wide range of fields, including: health and social services, sports and recreation, culture, the arts, education, the environment, faith/religion and politics. Common to all of these organizations is the need for volunteers to carry out their valuable work in the community. The campaign created such a momentum in the community that agencies, schools, and businesses stepped forward to help support the campaign by promoting volunteerism within their own organizations. This campaign not only increases awareness about the importance of volunteering but also raises the profile about the value of this sector within our community. Domestic Product $29.6 billion (this does not include is roughly the same as the accommodation and food April Meetings at Halton Region Headquarters April 1, 9:30 a.m. Regional Council April 10, 9:30 a.m. April 14, 9:30 a.m. April 15, 9:30 a.m. Planning & Public Works Committee April 15, 1:30 p.m. April 22, 9:30 a.m. Regional Council We welcome your feedback. Contact Access Halton at accesshalton@halton.ca This page has been donated by this newspaper to communicate important information to Halton residents at no cost to taxpayers.