Prospera Credit Union has donated $25,000 to support mental wellness for clients and staff at Archway Community Services (formerly Abbotsford Community Services.)
Part of the funding will help provide free counselling to youth and their families through the Archway Youth Resource Centre.
Funding will also go towards providing free counselling for adults who often don’t qualify for other services at Archway.
Another part of the donation will fund trauma-informed training for Archway supervisors so they can support their staff and clients appropriately.
The training has been shown to provide greater empathy, resulting in a more positive and wellness-focused work environment.
Archway executive director Rod Santiago said the agency is grateful to Prospera for the donation.
He said it is estimated that one in five Canadians will experience a mental-health issue in their lifetime and, with more than 400 staff at Archway, there are employees who could use support.
“This funding will enable us to be more intentional in supporting clients and staff as they deal with difficult client situations involving poverty, abuse, addictions or mental health issues,” Santiago said.
Diane Dou, president and CEO of Prospera Credit Union, said it’s in the company’s nature to be involved in making their communities stronger.
“We are proud to support Archway Community Services and work with them as they provide the much-needed services to ensure that youth, their families, and the staff at Archway have help when and where they need it,” she said.
Prospera has been a long-time supporter of Archway in various ways over the last 29 years.
This December will mark their eighth annual Youth Angel Tree drive to collect Christmas gifts for teenagers in low-income households.
To learn more about the counselling and mental wellness programs at Archway, visit Archway.ca/programs.
Donations to support mental-health initiatives can be made at Archway.ca/donate.
RELATED: Abbotsford Community Services announces name change
RELATED: Archway Community Services celebrates 50 years in Abbotsford