Qualicum School District 69 has received $20,000 from the provincial government's civil forfeiture grant funding program to help support the Reconnection youth employment project, according to a news release from the provincial government.
"Giving young people hope and the skills to land a good job goes a long way in helping them avoid run-ins with the law and the legal system," said Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell. "Some youth need that extra little bit of assistance and guidance; and programs such as School District 69's Reconnection project help them develop and grow into confident adults."
The school district's Reconnection project helps young people overcome barriers to employment by providing them with employability skills, training, and work placement opportunities. Youth will also work on self- assessment, life and job skill development, career planning, and goal setting.
This year, the priority focus for civil forfeiture grants is on initiatives that address violence against women, and support the Violence Free B.C. strategy. Other areas where funding was made available included serving victims through restorative justice, community and youth crime prevention.
Since the civil forfeiture grant funding program became active, it has returned more than $16 million from successful forfeiture actions to crime prevention projects and to victims of fraud and phony investment schemes in British Columbia. Violence Free B.C. is the provincial government's long-term strategy and commitment to end violence against women. Acting as a roadmap, Violence Free BC combines immediate actions with a long-term vision to end the violence, and to support women whose lives and well-being have been impacted by violence.
— NEWS Staff/Province of B.C.