A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 9Nanaimo Youth Services Association

Providing youth with meaningful connections for learning, development and independence.

NYSA operates as a not-for-profit to provide services and programs to young people principally in the Nanaimo Regional District of British Columbia. We assist youth and young adults to reach their full potential by operating programs to:

• support, promote and encourage youth to become productive citizens;

• build self-esteem and confidence;

• encourage the development of respectful relationships;

• foster the self-care, safety and stability of all youth.

NYSA services are mostly free and, depending on the program, available to youth within the age group of 15 to 30 years.

1 Statistics Canada, 2016 Census

2 2018 Nanaimo Point-In-Time Count Report

• Total number of youth in Nanaimo: 17,8901

• Total number of homeless youth in Nanaimo: 932

• Graduates from NYSA job-readiness programs: 207

• Number of youth permanently housed by NYSA in 2018-2019: 76

OUR MISSION:

Develop and maintain a community that provides youth with meaningful

connections and integrated opportunities for learning,

development and independence.

Amy Ballard, President

Keith Wilson, CAO

A Message from ManagementIt is with pride that we present the 50th Anniversary Nanaimo Youth Services Association Annual Report. This document represents the successful work of all of NYSA’s staff as well as the commitment of the Board to put the organization in a place where it can continue to flourish over the next 50 years.

As you may recall, the organization has been going through many changes over the past couple of years. Financial challenges, program closures and a significant reorganization have meant that NYSA has had to re-focus on its mission and commit to the new reality of youth service provision in an ever-changing world. While the work has been demanding, it has also been immensely satisfying to know that we’re making a difference in the lives of many young people in the mid-island region.

We’re at a crossroads now where NYSA is proposing a new model of service delivery in order to remain relevant and useful to the youth of today. NYSA will become an agency that concentrates on providing a holistic menu of services that respond to all of a youth’s needs, be they education and training, wellness and health, housing or social interaction. We believe that the world is getting to be a complicated place and, in order to be of service, we must provide support in all areas to ensure that our goal of providing an environment that encourages and empowers youth in reaching their fullest potential is realized.

In 2019, the Board of Directors, working with NYSA staff, redrafted the vision and mission of the organization. It is the Board’s and staff’s belief that the new statements provide a more focused and yet, all encompassing, description of the agency’s aspirations. We hope to have a number of positive announcements moving forward and, in them, re-pledge our commitment to providing the best in service to the youth population in our community.

Sincerely,

Amy BallardPresident & Chair

Keith Wilson

Chief Administrative Officer

NYSA has created four operational sectors that encompass and expand its activities for youth in the central Island area. This provides clients with wrap-around, holistic support services to further improve their chances for success.

The New NYSA Model

Wellness Centre Futures Centre

Enterprise CentreHousing Centre

The new Wellness Centre is the foundation from which youth can take care of their physical, mental and emotional challenges. The Centre is a service provider as well as a referral service to other professional care providers like doctors, dentists, mental health professionals and others.

Clients are served through a variety of delivery channels like workshops, peer group meetings, one-on-one assistance and online media channels. NYSA is participating with a number of other Nanaimo agencies to bring a Foundry youth clinic to the region, with ongoing planning and preparation currently underway.

The topics covered in the Centre’s service menu run the gamut from healthy babies to self-care to getting a drivers license. Many run on a regularly scheduled basis and most have no client cost associated with them.

Wellness Centre

Wellness Centre Programming includes:• Your healthy baby• Self-care and personal development• Successful communications• Tools for managing stress• Self-care for mental wellbeing• Substance Use Awareness• Human Trafficking Awareness• Healthy cooking and eating• Healthy relationship building• Creative Writing• Painting/sketching• L2N - getting your drivers license• Young mens’ peer support• Young womens’ peer support• LGTBQ+ support

Wellness Centre Service Menu:

• Collaboration with other wellness agencies.

• Referral capacity to government departments and health professionals.

• Variety of support workshops.

• Venue for peer support gatherings.

Futures Centre Programming includes:• Job readiness training like ACCESS

BladeRunners and Employment Keep It!

• Workshops like L2N training, Serving It Right, SuperHost, WHMIS, Level 1 First Aid and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

• Job search support like resume writ-ing, cover letter creation and inter-view coaching.

• Other online skills training options.

Other Support Services include:• Clothing library for job

interviews.• Personal grooming

guidance.• Haircuts.• Other specific assistance

as required.

Futures CentreBringing job-readiness programs and NYSA’s other work-readiness initiatives into a cohesive group allows the organization to focus on what is missing in the programs that will further support success for clients

after they graduate from NYSA programs.

Research has shown that ongoing support in the first year after completion of a life changing program is key to an individual’s success at moving forward in their new lives.

Historically, employment programs did not provide any support once the formal program was finished. NYSA

data shows a 73 to 70 percent success rate for those enrolled in our readiness programs. The

Futures Centre will try to improve on that rate of success by identifying barriers to success for individual clients and working with them

to overcome whatever is standing in the way—even after their program ends.

As well, the Futures Centre provides other resources like tools, small equipment, work clothing and driving lessons to further enhance a client’s chances for success.

Enterprise CentreThe Enterprise Centre is well along in the planning stages. It is the sector that will create sustainable social enterprise businesses to respond to a number of opportunities for the organization to expand its services while generating revenue to help offset the expenses of some of NYSA’s other programming areas.

Potential business opportunities are tested against strict requirements in terms of viability, risk, job creation and financial return. They are also evaluated for sustainability, environmental benefit, social good and their contribution to the broader community.

Several opportunities are currently being investigated and developed.

Potential Enterprises include:• Cafe/bistro• Childcare Centre• Lawncare/landscaping business• Property maintenance for seniors and

physically challenged homeowners

Housing CentreNYSA has been in the housing business for nearly all of its 50 years. However, service was limited to the simple provision of physical living quarters to those who required them.

The Housing Centre will encompass the existing housing facilities, Rowe House and 1001 Waddington and add several significant services to the housing mix. Provision of support services through the transition from ‘being-cared-for’ to independent living will provide direct benefits to our tenants while also giving some peace-of-mind to NYSA housing staff. Staff will work with residents on a variety of topics to help make the move to independence a less daunting and more comfortable process.

In the near future, the Housing Centre will assess the viability of providing youth shelter accommodation, gender based housing options and other solutions for safe, secure housing for youth.

Housng Centre Areas of Interest:• Supportive living accommodation• Affordable housing accommodation• Tenant workshops• Furniture library• New resident care packages• Communal Dinners/chore

responsibilities• Youth shelter• Young women’s care facility

Nanaimo Youth Services Association

Financial Highlights

FINANCIAL POSITIONAS OF MARCH 31, 2019

ASSETS

Current and other assets $ 844,109

Long-term 71,750

Property and equipment 2,418,006

TOTAL $3,333,865

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Current and long-term liabilities $2,565,295

Net assets 768,570

TOTAL $3,333,865

REVENUE, EXPENSES & NET ASSETS

REVENUE

Government contracts $1,938,924

Accommodation rentals 141,876

Donations & fundraising 18,272

Other revenue 19,825

TOTAL $2,118,897

EXPENSES

Workshops & training $1,615,001

Facilities Management 305,541

Administration & fundraising 261,892

TOTAL $2,182,434

Net Revenue (63,537)

Non-operating income 462,647

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS $399,110

How We Spent Each Dollar

Workshops & training

Facilities management

Administration & fundraising

NYSA: A Look Back

NYSA Incorporated

Initiated Adolescent Care Home

Youth Worker Training Program Developed

Work Orientation Workshop project started

Youth Employment Centre opens

1001 Waddington Youth Housing complex built

Rowe House opens for 19 to 25 year-olds

Employment Keep It! program opens

BladeRunners program offers first training

One Stop Youth Centre opens

50th Anniversary

1969

1983

1986

1987

1994

1995

1996

1999

2012

2016

2019

1997 NYSA purchases 290 Bastion Street

2011 Kids4Kids & Jump In programs started

2007NYSA opens Courtenay office

The Minds Eye newspaper started

1998

* some of the dates are guesstimates and may be incorrect. If you can help us correct them, feel free to let us know.

What They SaidBladeRunners was a great experience and privilege. There are no other opportunities like this. The fact that it is here for free for the participants is great. I would 100% recommend this program to anyone having a hard time financially or with employment. I now feel confident going into the workforce.

-Martina Fred

This program has been one of the best things in my life, besides my family and my girlfriend. I am able to wake up early and enjoy my day. I made lots of friends and learned so much that I will use every day. I would recommend this program to lots of people!

-Julian Burns

I am thankful for all the support and faith NYSA gives today’s youth, helping them acquire the skills and confidence they need to progress in society. I am grateful Amy accepted me into the program and helped me switch my career with a smooth and easy transition. I thoroughly enjoyed every lesson, and all the hands-on experience that was provided. I also cherish all the new friendships I made. The program gave me hope for all of the youth of today, knowing that they have such awesome people in their corner.

-Ronin Broad

The 2019 BladeRunners program helps individuals to find the type of work that fits them and that they truly enjoy. The program allows you to work with a variety of individuals in many different work areas, and gives you a chance to ‘spread your feathers’ if you will.

The staff at NYSA who coordinate the BladeRunners program are a very skilled group of individuals who should be praised for their dedication to those in need. Their natural attunement to specific situations gives them a diverse profile to work with almost every individual and their specific needs, so that the person can more easily find employment success. In future years, I hope to see this program reach more people, as it is such an important resource that is available to the general public. I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for having this opportunity with such wonderful people.

Thank you all for your service.

-Jayden Oram

Nanaimo Youth Services Association

Corporate Information

Board of DirectorsAmy BallardPresident & Chair

Don StedefordSecretary

Kali FridayTreasurer

Andrea Rosato-TaylorDirector

Dana EllisDirector

Mike BonkowskiPast President

Leana PelleginDirector

Alan BeaudryDirector

NYSA Staff

Tom EsakinProgram Director Employment Keep It!

Amy WorthProgram Director ACCESS BladeRunners

Anthony MakiJob Developer

Debby EvansOperations Coordinator

Nicholas WorsleyHousing Coordinator

Kevin DelaneyFacilities Coordinator

James SimonHousing Facilitator

Chris LakustaSupportive Living Coordinator

Danielle ComeauSupportive Living Worker

Amanda PittsSupportive Living Worker

Becca HiebertSupportive Living Worker

Allison EvansController

Pom LemireBookkeeper

Nick DiemProgram Facilitator Courtenay

Carla LearyProgram Facilitator Courtenay

Aakash PawarResearch & Administrative Assistant

Victor AdebayoIntern

Keith WilsonChief Administrative Officer

290 Bastion Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3A4

T: 250.754.1989 F: 250.754.8661

www.nysa.bc.ca