Community organizations in Manitoba will get sports equipment and vital facility upgrades as part of a new Strategy to Keep Kids Out of Crime, Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief earlier this month. Minister Chief said the strategy comes out of months of consultation in which he listened to people in communities, large and small, across Manitoba.
“Thousands of Manitobans from different backgrounds and all regions of the province came out to share their stories, concerns and ideas,” said Chief. “Everywhere I visited I heard about the importance of providing positive options and opportunities to kids no matter where they live. I am working with our community partners to keep focused on those priorities.”
As part of the five-point Strategy to Keep Kids Out of Crime, the province today launched a $500,000 Sport Opportunities Fund, which will give more young at-risk Manitobans the opportunity to get involved in sports and find healthy and positive after-school and weekend opportunities, Chief said.
The minister said community-based sport and recreation organizations will be able to apply for grants that will increase sporting opportunities for high-needs youth and communities with:
*up to $10,000 for permanent equipment such as volleyball standards, goal frames and athletic field line painters; and
*up to $2,500 for equipment with a shorter life span such as volleyballs, pucks and uniforms.
Manitoba’s Strategy to Help Keep Kids Out of Crime has five key points: 1. strengthening the early years and schools; 2. creating youth opportunities; 3. supporting recreation and healthy communities; 4. promoting mental health and preventing substance abuse and 5. safer streets with more beat cops, better correctional facilities and tougher laws.
To learn more about Manitoba’s efforts on crime prevention and youth opportunities and to apply for to the Sports Opportunities Fund, visit www.gov.mb.ca/cyo. For more information on the five-point plan, visit www.gov.mb.ca/kidsoutofcrime/
