B.C. To Assist Youth Tackle Barriers To Employment, Education

More young people with barriers to employment or education will have access to an expanded employment program.

Foundry is a provincewide network of integrated youth wellness centres where young people can access a variety of wraparound supports and services, including individualized mental-health care, substance-use services, physical and sexual health care and social services, as well as youth and family peer supports.

Its Work and Education program offers assistance to people aged 15 to 24, including health, mentoring, education, skills development and job-placement services.

A $9-million provincial investment is expanding the program to six more Foundry centres in addition to 12 existing centres, including Campbell River and the Comox Valley, and online.

“Employment can be a powerful tool of recovery and wellness, which is why we are taking action to help more young people get access to employment services and education,” said Sheila Malcolmson, B.C. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.

“We’re expanding Foundry’s Work and Education program to six more communities, so more young people get life-changing, local and personal employment supports.”

The free program provides individualized supports and counselling to help youth explore their interests and develop the skills they need through various one-on-one interventions, workshops, post-secondary education or certification programs to achieve education or career goals.

The program has supported approximately 550 young people every year since 2021 through its provincial virtual services and at existing centres.

With this expansion, the program is expected to support more than 800 young people each year with their social and emotional well-being, work toward education goals, improve their employment readiness and achieve success in the labour market.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.