The B.C. government is giving a one-time grant of $500,000 to Connections Place, a Greater Victoria non-profit that operates on the International Clubhouse model to support mental health and addictions recovery programming.<\/p>\n
Started in 2019, Connections Place is a peer-led non-profit that connects people struggling with mental illness and substance use with a range of supports and resources to foster growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople struggling with their mental health need to know that when they reach out for help, they will be able to receive it in a welcoming, supportive environment,\u201d said Josie Osborne, minister of health. \u201cThat\u2019s why the work Connections Place does is so valuable. By providing peer support, reducing stigma around mental illness and promoting self-reliance, they help people get the supports they need while fostering a safer, healthier community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Focused on community-building and reducing stigma, Connections Place helps adults diagnosed with mental illness, including psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia.<\/p>\n
READ RELATED: \u00a0Connections Place helps people with mental health challenges<\/a><\/p>\n Whether people are looking for employment, skills training, housing, shelters, meals, or social and wellness activities, the clubhouse model provides this. <\/p>\n Members are also tasked with clubhouse responsibilities like meal preparation, cleaning and maintenance. <\/p>\n It also recognizes the amount of stigma that still surrounds mental health, and seeks to create a safe and inclusive environment to help people break the cycles of crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt Connections Place, our focus is on improving quality of life in our region, starting with those who need it most,\u201d said Neelam Pahal, executive director of Connections Place. \u201cEvery day, our clubhouse creates space for people living with mental illness to find purpose, connection and hope\u2026Through strong partnerships across sectors, we\u2019re building something meaningful here in Victoria, something that we believe can inspire broader change in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n The $500,000 grant will go towards operating the Connections Place clubhouse, allowing them to serve more people.\u00a0<\/p>\n Connections Place operates on the Clubhouse International Model, which has more than 370 Clubhouses in 32 countries.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Clubhouse Model is a psychosocial rehabilitation approach to recovery from serious mental illness which addresses social and economic factors as part of a comprehensive, community-based approach,\u201d states Clubhouse International<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is peer-led programming that connects members with housing and medical teams and services around the Greater Victoria community.<\/p>\n According to Connections Place, In 2024-25, more than 182 active members accessed services at Connections Place, with 8,880 total visits and 6,417 total meals served.<\/p>\n According to its 2023-2024 report<\/a>, in the 2023-2024 season, Connections Place had 7,561 member visits, with 138 active members, 5,164 meals served and received $17,811.65 in donations.<\/p>\n \u201cBy creating a welcoming, recovery-oriented environment, they empower individuals to rebuild their lives, regain confidence and feel a renewed sense of belonging. This, in turn, helps reduce stigma and build a stronger, healthier community for everyone,\u201d stated Nina Krieger, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake in the release.<\/p>\n Michael, a member at Connections Place said it makes \u201ceverybody feel valued and encourages people to use their strengths. It gives them independence and agency. The point of coming in is to contribute and be part of a community. To be needed. Everyone that comes here has unique skills and abilities. I don\u2019t see people\u2019s mental-health issues here; I see what they\u2019re good at. Being able to come in here and contribute, it makes me feel better and happier.\u201d<\/p>\n Another member, Andrew, said he appreciates the \u201cflexibility that members have to take time away and return to the Clubhouse on their own time: Being able to step back and step back in and not be treated differently because of that, and even just having people check in on me from time to time, has been nice.\u201d<\/p>\n