$200,000 OTF Grant Builds Program Resiliency for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Barrie, ON – On Friday August 9, local MPP Doug Downey met with the team at Camphill Communities Ontario to hear more about the $200,000 Resiliency Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was used to adapt, rebuild and expand Camphill’s day services, including robust pottery, cafe, community and volunteer programs. Through this project, Camphill has been able to build capacity, resilience and sustainability for their in-demand day services, giving more adults with developmental disabilities improved access to recreational, community, vocational, and skill-building programs for years to come.
“Organizations like Camphill offer adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities the support to live their lives with dignity and freedom. I am grateful that this funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation has helped Camphill to increase their services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will help to address critical gaps and eliminate future uncertainty so Camphill can continue to serve its clients with the high quality care they have come to expect.”
Following the rolling lockdowns due to COVID, several organizations that used to offer day programs for adults with disabilities never reopened, leading to increased demand and a shortage of services over the past several years. Thanks to the $200,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Camphill has been able to scale up access to their programs, providing services to more people, and filling the gap in support for this vulnerable population. Additionally, Camphill is training and developing more staff who deliver day service programming, mitigating future disruptions that staff turnover could cause.
"The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be overstated,” said Larry Palmer, Executive Director of Camphill Communities Ontario. “Camphill has a long history of partnership and leadership, guided by the values of Creativity, Community and Opportunity. This grant allowed us to grow our day services, creating more opportunities for the individuals we support to engage meaningfully with the community, learn new skills, and contribute in ways that will enrich their lives and the lives of others.”
