BRAMPTON, ON (March 20, 2025) – Peel Region is reinforcing its commitment to preventing youth violence by providing additional support to community partners through a new grant funding opportunity. An expression of interest (EOI) has been made available to community partners to fund racialized trauma, trauma-informed and violence-informed training for providers serving youth in Peel.
This initiative, totaling $270,000 in funding, will run from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, and is designed to enhance the capacity of service providers to address the complex needs of youth in our region, particularly those from vulnerable and racialized communities.
Youth violence remains a growing concern in Peel, and tackling it requires a comprehensive approach that includes investing in early intervention, to improve the well-being of young people.
This funding is part of the $7.3 million time-limited investment from Public Safety Canada’s Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF), which has been instrumental in expanding youth violence prevention programs. Funding in Peel has been allocated to community-based service providers to deliver critical programs and services to support youth well-being. Some examples include:
- Deliver holistic support for racialized and at-risk youth, including mental health counseling, housing assistance, and employment services.
- Provide 1:1 support for young men on parole, helping them access education, employment, and psychological care.
- Connect young women at risk of gang involvement with positive role models and life-skills support.
- Expand access to arts, sports, and recreational programs to help youth develop positive peer relationships.
- Offer life skills training and mentorship opportunities in schools and the community.
This ongoing collaboration with community partners has led to meaningful improvements to critical services for at-risk youth, including strengthened engagement with more young people and providing service providers with the necessary tools to support them effectively.
This latest training initiative is informed by needs and opportunities identified through Peel Region’s partnership with community organizations and through the ongoing collaborative development of the Youth Violence Prevention (YVP) strategy.
“This funding opportunity shows the power of collaboration between Peel Region and our dedicated community partners. By listening to and learning from the needs of local youth, we are co-creating a more inclusive, responsive, and effective approach to youth violence prevention. Together, we are building stronger, safer communities for and with young people in Peel.
Nancy Polsinelli, Commissioner of Health Services, Peel Region
