Launch of Call for Concepts for Pan-Canadian projects to help seniors across Canada stay active, engaged and informed

OTTAWA, Dec. 6, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to supporting and promoting seniors' health, well-being and contributions by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed.

Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, invited organizations to apply for funding for projects that will help increase social inclusion among seniors through collaborative and innovative approaches. Organizations can apply under the Call for Concepts (CFC) for the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) 2018-2019 for Pan-Canadian projects.

The NHSP fosters social inclusion and the engagement of seniors by encouraging seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others through projects that make a difference in the lives of seniors and their communities. Pan-Canadian funding supports multi-year projects using collaborative and innovative approaches to address seniors' issues.

The application period begins today and will close on January 21, 2019. Eligible organizations can receive up to $5M over five years.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada deeply values the contribution seniors make to our country. We know that when seniors can fully participate in society, everybody benefits. That is why I am pleased to launch the Call for Concepts for the Pan-Canadian stream of the NHSP. The Pan-Canadian stream supports innovative projects that create a significant impact in communities. This program has been supporting more than half a million seniors annually and will continue to do so."
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors

Quick Facts

• The previous NHSP call for proposals for Pan-Canadian projects was open from May 29, 2015, to July 10, 2015. The call focused on projects that would help reduce social isolation among seniors.
• Pan-Canadian projects funded through the NHSP 2015–2016 Call for Proposals have received more than $21M for their Collective Impact plans and projects. Most projects will end in spring 2019.

Associated Links

• Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program – Pan-Canadian projects
• Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program – Community-based projects
• New Horizons for Seniors Program – Engaging Seniors, Strengthening Communities
• Budget 2018
• Innoweave Seniors SI initiative
• National Seniors Council

Backgrounder

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects that make a difference in the lives of seniors and their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.

The objectives of the NHSP are:

• Promoting volunteerism among seniors;
• Engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others;
• Expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
• Supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and
• Providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors. 

NHSP funding supports Community-based projects and Pan-Canadian projects.

Pan-Canadian projects

Pan-Canadian funding supports multi-year projects using collaborative and innovative approaches to address seniors issues. 

Projects that have received funding through the NHSP 2015–2016 Pan-Canadian Call for Proposals are using a Collective Impact approach where project partners work together to achieve measurable results that address social isolation among seniors.

With the 2018-2019 Call for Concepts, NHSP will continue the implementation of the innovative, evidence-based Collective Impact approach and shift the focus from reducing the social isolation of seniors to increasing the social inclusion of seniors.

Organizations will submit their concepts for proposed Collective Impact Plans. Following a review of concepts, organizations whose concepts are selected through the CFC will be invited to submit a full proposal.

New this year, the funding period has been increased from three to five years, and the maximum funding amount has been increased from $750K to $5M. This predictable funding will make the projects more sustainable and allow for greater impact.

For more information, visit Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program – Pan-Canadian projects.

Community-based projects

Community-based project funding supports activities that engage seniors and address one or more of the program's five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance. These projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding and, as of this year, up to $5,000 in new small grants funding for organizations that have not received funding within the last five years. Approximately $35M is provided each year for community-based projects.

The NHSP 2018-2019 call for proposals for community-based projects closed on June 15, 2018. Organizations were invited to apply for funding of up to $25K for projects that help empower seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others and support communities by increasing their capacity to address local issues.

Approximately 1,905 projects across Canada were approved through the previous NHSP call for proposals for Community-based Projects and 1,885 of these are now in progress.

For more information, visit Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program – Community-based projects.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Annabelle Archambault, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Seniors, 613-462-7126, [e-mail]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca