London, ON – On Friday, local MPP Teresa Armstrong met with the team at the Youth Centre for Change (YCFC) to celebrate a $89,400 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to build a new Recreation Centre for the youth it serves. The new centre will offer a safe and inclusive space for male youth involved in harmful sexual behaviour to participate in recreational activities and receive treatment.
“I am honoured to extend my congratulations to the team at the Youth Centre for Change (YCFC) on their receipt of this grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF),” said Teresa Armstrong, MPP for London—Fanshawe. “This new recreation centre will provide valuable programming to the young men served by this organization. This space will be a wonderful place to provide various social, physical, and individualized opportunities for treatment and care. I look forward to seeing the space opened and its impact on those it serves.”
YCFC has worked for over three decades to provide specialized treatment to youth who have
engaged in harmful sexual behaviour. The organization’s programs focus on reducing the risk of reoffending and promoting healthy development through evidence-based treatment and therapy. However, the organization recognizes that treatment alone is insufficient and that the youth it serves need safe and positive outlets for self-expression and socialization.
The new recreation centre will be located on YCFC’s existing facility and will feature various recreational and therapeutic activities, including team sports, art therapy, meditation, cultural learning and more. The Centre will also provide a safe space for youth to connect with their peers and engage in positive social interactions.
Gallery of the construction of the RAD Recreation Centre
“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Trevor Blonde, Executive Director of the Youth Centre for Change. “This funding will enable us to create a much-needed space for the youth we serve. Providing safe and positive recreational opportunities is essential to helping our youth develop healthy habits and build positive relationships.”
Construction on the new Recreation began in May 2023 and was completed in December 2023. For more information about the Youth Centre for Change and its programs, please visit www.ycfc.ca
The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.