After a hard year for the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area (BGC), staff are looking forward to what next year has in store for the organization.
As reported last week by the Cochrane Eagle, the BGC suffered a loss $95,000 in the 2014/2015 operating year and was faced with the tough decision to lay off six employees.
Now the organization is focused on bouncing back and looking ahead.
“Initially the (financial loss) was scary but it is fine now,” said Jeff Gray, manager of Youth Program.
“It was a tough month or so when we were trying to figure out what needed to be done but it has allowed us to broaden what each person can contribute.”
After the layoff of six employees the BGC staff had to learn new roles as they were taking on new tasks and responsibilities.
“The workload is starting to smoothen out – we’ve taken out a lot of things we didn’t need and we are quite efficient now. It turned out to be a real good positive,” Gray said.
The financial situation for the club has also improved, after being approved for a one-time grant of $25,000 and a loan of $25,000 from the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) operating reserve at the Dec. 14 Cochrane town council meeting.
But just because finances are stabilizing does not mean people should stop donating.
Staff is encouraging any Cochranite that wants to help the club to stop by and make a donation. The donations fund the organization’s youth programs, such as the Rogers Raising the Grade program to help youth discover their interests, shape career goals and plan for the future, as well as the year-round Safe Couch program, helping homeless youth in Cochrane find a place to live.
“We provide a lot of services to the kids (and) it is important over the holidays to get some support,” Gray said. “During the holidays people attempt to donate an abundant amount, more than they would for the rest of the year because it is the giving season – and we need a reserve, so later on when giving doesn’t become the top priority we will still have enough to give to the kids.”
And with the New Year come new updates for the club.
The BGC is planning to change the focus of the Rogers Raising the Grade program to become more academically centered.
Currently, the program runs alongside the Youth Drop-In times at the club but in 2016 organizers will be offering to pair youth, using the Raise the Grade program, with a mentor.
“It will be a fun mentorship focused on academics,” Gray said.
The organization will also be updating their online presence, focusing on enabling registration and taking donations through their website. While the functions are slated to launch mid-2016, staff is excited to leave their “ancient ways.”
“We will finally be up to our 2016 standards,” Gray said with a laugh.
For more information on the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area programs, go to bgccochrane.ca/programs
