$25,000 grant for Oshawa senior community centres

On Thursday, MP Colin Carrie was at the Oshawa Senior Community Centres 55+ (OSCC55+) to help celebrate the success of the Volunteer Engagement Project, funded by a grant from the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

OSCC55+ received $25,000 in funding to develop training sessions designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of volunteers, and to facilitate an event aimed at gathering communication and feedback to update the Centres’ Membership Council volunteer framework, and revise volunteer policies and procedures.

The Volunteer Training Calendar was developed through feedback gathered from OSCC55+ and partner agency volunteers, including student volunteers and older adults.

Some 13 learning opportunities were planned with sessions still available at oscc.ca/volunteerengagement. To date, over 258 volunteers have been trained and actively engaged through sessions such as Indigenous Awareness Training, Conflict Management, and Fraud/Scams Prevention and Mental Health Support. Community partner agencies such as Durham Region Police Services, Community Care Durham, and Alzheimer Society – Durham Region assisted by delivering the training sessions over a five-month period.

Additionally, OSCC55+ hosted a ‘Kitchen Table Conversation’ event gathering together staff, volunteers, and participants to share feedback and suggestions about a refreshed framework of the centres’ Membership Council structure. Over 40 volunteers attended the session to share ideas, explore options, and identify current best practices. The grant also provided an opportunity to refine the OSCC55+ policy and procedure manual, enabling the organization to update their volunteer program, aligning with sector best practices.

“I have always felt confident that OSCC55+ can be counted on to do vital community work for seniors with the grants provided by the Federal government,” said Dr. Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa. “In my nearly 21 years as Member of Parliament serving the riding of Oshawa, supporting seniors in our community has always been a priority.”

“We deeply value our volunteers at OSCC55+, as their participation and support are essential to the success and sustainability of our programs and services.” said Kim Lepine, Executive Director. “I would like to express my gratitude to New Horizons for Seniors Program, as these opportunities support and enhance the vital role volunteers provide throughout our organization.”

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