FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cowichan Neighbourhood House Receives 2 Year Grant
March 2, 2010
Chemainus, B.C. – Volunteers at the Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association (CNHA) are delighted to announce that the association has secured a grant worth almost $72,000 over two years from the Alexandra Foundation. The grant will allow the CNHA to hire a staff person for the first time in its 15 year history. Specifically, the grant is allocated towards hiring a part-time Project Coordinator and renovating the Old Chemainus Fire Hall, where the CNHA runs its resource centre and youth activities.
Originally formed in 1995, the CNHA moved into the Old Chemainus Fire Hall in 1997 where it set up a youth drop in, adult drop in, youth nights, 'free store', workshops, and several other activities for youths, families, and other community members.
"We’ve always run solely on volunteers," said Arlene Robinson, Chair of the Steering Committee. "It’s been a dream of ours to finally have staff who’d bring better continuity and coordination to our association, and who’d free our volunteers from day to day administrative tasks."
The CNHA has received grants in previous years from BC Gaming Direct Access, but those grants did not fund operational or staff costs. "On the one hand, we’ve had money for equipment, games, and special projects; on the other hand, we’ve always struggled to pay basic utility bills," said Malcolm Crockett, President of the CNHA.
The new grant is seed money for two years to build a stronger organizational foundation, with a larger service catchment area and a broader funding base.
What happens before the two years of funding are up? The CNHA Board will apply to the Cowichan United Way, and will to be in a better position with respect to fundraising and other grant funding. The grant will also help renovate parts of the Old Fire Hall, which will in turn improve the ability to generate regular rental income. “We may rent only to non-profit organizations that fit in with our activities, including youth activities” said Crockett. “We need the renovations to make the building more attractive to potential renters.”
The first installment of the grant is scheduled to arrive at the end of March. The association acknowledges and thanks the Alexandra Foundation, and the volunteers who put together the grant application and made the final presentation at the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of Greater Vancouver main office.
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CNHA office: 250-246-3203; www.cnha.ca
Malcolm Crockett, President: 250-640-2006 (cell)
Arlene Robinson, Chair of Steering Committee: 250-246-7503 (cell)
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CNHA's Arlene Robinson wins Golden Brush Award
November, 2009
Congratulations to Arlene Robinson, our Steering Committee Chair, who won in the category of "outstanding community service" in the 2009 Golden Brush Awards, hosted by the Chemainus and District Chamber of Commerce.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2007
Neighbourhood House Receives $20,000
The Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association (CNHA) is delighted to announce the association has once again received a grant of $20,000 from BC Gaming. This is the CNHA's fourth grant from the provincial government's Direct Access Grant Program of BC Gaming. The grant funds are allocated towards a youth mural project and towards improvements to the Old Chemainus Fire Hall, where the CNHA runs its resource centre and youth activities.
"We are looking into developing a community kitchen, now that we have the funds for a commercial dishwasher," said Malcolm Crockett, President of the CNHA. "We were also in dire need of a new photocopier and computer software to perform daily office tasks," he added, "and now we can afford both."
"The grant money will help improve the sound quality at our youth concerts, and reduce noise spill to the street," said Don Dawes, who has helped the youth with developing the monthly music concerts. "Many of the youth bands will be interested to know that there is money for a new drum set."
The concerts are an important means for local youth to express themselves and learn how to organize, promote, supervise and run a function. The grant will help improve the venue, and attract more bands. "We are already attracting high profile bands from across Canada and even Australia", said Arlene Robinson, Chair of the Steering Committee. "This helps our local youth, because they get to play in front of larger audiences when they are billed with better known bands."
The Neighbourhood House moved into the Old Chemainus Fire Hall ten years ago and set up a free youth drop in and adult drop in, youth nights, and a 'free store' that gives clothing and other household goods on an emergency basis to families in need. Concerts, educational workshops, and several other activities for youth and other community members occur on a regular basis.
The CNHA is currently discussing the land proposals for the Old Chemainus Fire hall site.
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For further information, please contact:
Malcolm Crockett, President: 250-640-2006
Arlene Robinson, Chair of Steering Committee: 250-246-3383
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2006
Cowichan Neighbourhood House Receives Third Grant
The Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association (CNHA)
is delighted to announce the association received another
grant of $20,000 from BC Gaming. This is the CNHA's
third grant from the provincial Direct Access Grant
Program of BC Gaming. The grant funds are directed towards
improvements to the Old Chemainus Fire Hall, where the
CNHA runs its resource centre and youth activities.
"We will be using the money for everything from
a new microwave oven to a modular stage and expanded
seating in the gym," said Jim Hughes, President
of the CNHA. Malcolm Crockett, Board member and Past-President,
added, "The new dolly for the padded seats will
save our backs, and comfortable seating is always welcome
at community events."
The Neighbourhood House moved into the Old Chemainus
Fire Hall nine years ago and set up a free youth drop
in and adult drop in, youth nights, and a 'free store'
that gives clothing and other household goods on an
emergency basis to families in need. Concerts, educational
workshops, and several other activities for youth and
other community members occur on a regular basis.
Last
year, the Municipality voted to continue the lease with
the CNHA for the Old Chemainus Fire Hall.
The new grant money has, however, placed the CNHA in
a unique but awkward situation. "On the one hand,
we have new money for equipment; on the other hand we
still struggle to pay the basic heat and electricity
bills," said Bill Frier, CNHA Treasurer. Frier
continued, "We're capital rich, but operationally
poor. The organization is reviewing revenue sources,
such as rental income and other grant funding."
The Neighbourhood House Association also hopes to increase
awareness of its programmes by launching a new website
this month at www.cnha.ca.
"We run solely on volunteers," said Arlene
Robinson, Chair of the Steering Committee. "It
is a dream of ours to finally get funding for staff,
who would bring better continuity and coordination to
our association, and free our volunteers from day to
day administrative tasks."
For now, however, the CNHA is delighted with the new
funding. The association acknowledges and thanks BC
Gaming, and the volunteers who put together the grant
application.
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For further information, please contact:
Jim Hughes, President: 250-246-3203
Arlene Robinson, Chair of Steering Committee: 250-246-3383
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2005
It's
official: Chemainus Neighbourhood House is open
The
Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association (CNHA) is pleased
to announce it will not be closing its doors in February.
The North Cowichan Municipality voted to continue the
lease with the CNHA for the Old Chemainus Fire Hall.
The news came in an evening phone call to CNHA President
Ian Doumont after the municipal meeting of January 19.
2005
“We're
open for the good of the community," said Ian Doumont.
“Not only can we continue to occupy the Old Chemainus
Fire Hall, but we were ‘guaranteed’ space
should a new building ever replace the Hall.”
The
Neighbourhood House moved into the Old Chemainus Fire
Hall nearly eight years ago. They set up a free Youth
Drop In; free youth nights; a "free store"
that, gives clothing, household goods and other items
& on an emergency basis to families in need. Concerts;
dances; educational workshops; and several other activities.
They had re-negotiated a second five year lease that
extended to 2007. In July of last year, the North Cowichan
Municipality voted to cancel the lease for the Old Fire
Hall after receiving a letter from four members, acting
privately.
The
change in the Municipal Council's position came as a
result of a petition signed by over 1000 community members,
an e-mail campaign, and an informal presentation by
members at the January 19 municipal meeting.
"All
levels of the organization participated in a disciplined
and coordinated manner to convey that the Neighbourhood
House has a meaningful role to play in our community,"
said Malcolm Crockett, past President and current Board
member. "We were overwhelmed by the support from
the community.”
The
Association would like to thank the Mayor and Municipal
Council; and are extremely grateful to the youths, parents,
volunteers, members, Board members, and general public
who all worked together to make this happen.
The
Cowichan Neighbourhood House welcomes new volunteers,
participants , suggestions for new programmes and activities.
Please call us at 246-3203 or Gary Rivest 246-4653 for
more information.
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