Call for Applications for Sexual Violence Prevention Innovation Grants

The province is inviting Nova Scotians with creative ideas on how to prevent sexual violence to apply for grants through the Sexual Violence Strategy.

Community Services Minister Joanne Bernard launched round two of the Prevention Innovation Grants today, Oct. 17, at MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning in Dartmouth. She was joined by youth and community groups who have been working on projects funded by grants awarded in the spring.

"We had an amazing response to the first call for grants with nearly 100 applications received from diverse groups from across the province," said Ms. Bernard. "The approved projects were incredibly creative and are already helping in the fight against sexual violence in our communities. I look forward to seeing the innovative ideas that come forward this time."

The grants are divided into streams of up to $5,000 for smaller projects and up to $50,000 for larger ones. They are a commitment under government's Sexual Violence Strategy. This second round has $600,000 available for a total investment of more than $1.2 million.

The grants support community groups and organizations, including youth and underserved communities such as African Nova Scotians, First Nations, and the LGBTIQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer) community, to reach out to their peers and help put creative prevention initiatives into practice.

"Art provides young people in our communities a tool for healing, exploration and self-expression," said Ryan Veltmeyer, Youth Art Connection co-founder and past grant recipient. "Combining art-making with discussion of the growing social issues facing our communities provides an engaging way for youth to begin to understand complex social issues including sexual violence, and to begin to discover ways they can take action to make change in their communities."

Projects funded through last year's Prevention Innovation Fund include the creation of comic books and graphic novels that explore issues of sexual violence, culturally based Mi'kmaq community engagement, work with men and boys, workshops on consent and healthy relationships, and a peer-led, gender-based, anti-cyber violence education tool.

Application forms are available for download at novascotia.ca/stopsexualviolence. Any questions about the application process can be emailed to <strategy@novascotia.ca.>

The deadline to submit grant applications is Dec. 16, 2016, at 4 p.m.