Seniors have a lifetime of knowledge, and that is a valuable resource the federal government wants to draw upon.
The Conservatives are asking for applications for projects that will help Canadian seniors use their leadership abilities, skills and experience to continue to make a difference in their communities through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
NHSP community-based projects help empower seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others and support communities by increasing their capacity to address local issues.
The call for proposals will close on Friday, July 4.
Organizations may receive up to $25,000 in grant funding. Projects must address one or more of the program’s five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance.
Over 1,770 NHSP community-based projects were approved through the 2013-2014 call for proposals, for a total of more than $33.4 million in funding.
Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes an additional $5 million per year for the NHSP to support additional projects that benefit seniors.
Since 2006, the NHSP has funded more than 13,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.
“Our government recognizes that seniors have helped build our country and continue to contribute their skills and experiences to communities and workplaces across Canada,” said Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors).
“Through initiatives such as the NHSP, we are empowering seniors by supporting projects that help improve their well-being and maintain a good quality of life.”
NHSP funding is targeted to community-based, pan-Canadian projects and pilot projects that focus on issues like social isolation and inter-generational learning.
Pan-Canadian projects provide support to help seniors protect themselves from elder abuse, including financial abuse and fraud. These projects help community members to recognize elder abuse in all its forms and to improve the quality of life, safety and security of seniors. Projects focus on developing tools, resources and promising practices that can be adapted and shared across communities, regions or Canada; they may be eligible to receive up to $250,000 per year for a maximum of three years.
Pilot projects funding provides support to help address seniors’ isolation. These pilot projects are eligible to receive up to $100,000 of federal funding over a maximum of 24 months which will be matched with funding from other sources.
• For more information on the NHSP, visit esdc.gc.ca/seniors.