Active Communities Grant Program
Physical activity is important at every age, and it has been recognized as one of the most effective ways to decrease the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and several types of cancers. Physical activity can also support positive mental health and well-being as it helps with stress management and fosters social connectedness.
Most of us know that being physically active is important to keep ourselves healthy and to move our bodies regularly, but for some it can be difficult to access affordable and inclusive physical activity opportunities.
BCAHL is excited that the Ministry of Health has provided $1.5 million in funding for the Active Communities Grant Program and that we can now accept applications from Indigenous and local governments.
This funding gives the Alliance the opportunity to work with communities to provide them with the resources to make physical activity possible for more people by responding to what local communities need so they can provide accessible, inclusive and supportive physical activity opportunities.
This round of funding from the province will build on the successes of the first Active Communities Initiative, which provided resources to Indigenous and local governments to create or expand accessible physical activity opportunities. The first iteration of this program created 737 physical activity opportunities for over 41,238 participants. Projects funded by this initiative increased the accessibility of 154 physical activity programs, 61 facilities, and 87 physical activity events by reducing financial and transportation barriers, installing equipment in central, easily accessible locations, or modifying the built environment to provide easy physical access.
This new funding allows BCAHL to continue this work and continue to improve access to physical activity opportunities and environments for more people in British Columbia, particularly equity-deserving groups including Indigenous communities, newcomers, low-income residents, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI2S communities.
The Active Communities Grant Program will fund programs led by Indigenous and local governments. The goal is for communities to be provided with the resources they need to support physical activity. This could mean improving ways to transport people to recreation centres or events, improving the built environment, offering ways to alleviate financial constraints so people can participate or offering participant-informed programming.
Eligibility Criteria
The following local government organizations are eligible to apply:
- Regional Districts
- Municipalities
- First Nations Bands
- First Nations Tribal Councils
- Métis Chartered Communities
We encourage applicants to build cross-sector relationships to improve physical activity in the community through this grant. Applications will be strengthened with collaborative partnerships between the Indigenous government or local government and the regional health authority as well as other community stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations, school districts, businesses, or community groups.
More information on the application requirements can be found in the package, which you can download here.
Applications for the Active Communities Grant Program are due at midnight on Monday, February 5, 2024. Please send your application or questions regarding the application process to info@bchealthyliving.ca.
