2024-25 Island Savings Partnership Impact Report - Cowichan Valley Youth Services

To our dear friends at Island Savings/First West Credit Union, At Cowichan Valley Youth Services, our work is relationships. We support young people to cultivate relationships within themselves, to repair and strengthen relationships with their family members, and to begin developing relationship with their community. All of this foundational work, when begun in adolescence, sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy, meaningful, and fulfilling connections; the ripple effects of which continue for generations.

Because of the nature of our work, we have a deep understanding of the role relationships play in facilitating meaningful change. We also recognize that healing seldom occurs in isolation, and are immensely grateful to have community supporters like you who choose to partner with us and walk alongside us, and the clients we are privileged to support, in this journey.

The partnership provided by Island Savings’ Community Investment Grant goes ventures far beyond a traditional funder-charity partnership. In just over six months, this partnership has provided more than 20 young people with consistent access to safe, skilled, caring adults with whom they share their darkest and brightest moments with. This partnership has (literally) clothed young people, helping them to feel sharp, confident, and ready for the next step in their employment journey. And, it has brought together local youth and your talented team members to offer the gifts of knowledge exchanged and connections forged, ensuring fulsome learnings and shared understandings that youth are always welcome at Island Savings.

Thank you, Island Savings/First West Credit Union, for building this incredible and meaningful relationship with Cowichan Valley Youth Services, and the youth who trust us to walk alongside them.

We are so grateful to have your support and involvement in this work!

owichan Valley Youth Services

Your Impact - By the Numbers

From September 2024 through to the end of the current school year, the Island Savings Community Investment Grant will have supported approximately 30 individuals through more than 900 hours of individual counselling sessions, both in-office and at various locations throughout the Cowichan Valley Regional District. Support for outreach wages and mileage have enabled counselling staff to cover approximately 1,150 kms throughout the region, greatly enhancing accessibility to quality mental health care for youth in outlying areas.

Of these 30 unique youth (between the age of 13-18), the most common presenting needs include anxiety, family conflict, parent-teen connection issues, depression, suicidal ideation, and relationship challenges. These challenges can also sometimes intersect with experiences of poverty, housing and food insecurity, and problematic substance use. By providing a relational and intentional space where youth can explore the issues they are facing in safety and without judgement, the Youth and Family Outreach Counsellor, together with the youth, is able to start the process of exploring solutions, including practicing coping strategies, developing new communication patterns, and navigating conflict, ultimately leading to youth becoming empowered to chart a healthy path forward.

Increasing Access & Dismantling Barriers

At 17, Marcus knew he was soon to be entering adulthood but felt completely unprepared. A deep sense of worthlessness and lack of motivation coloured every aspect of his life. He was struggling to complete his final year of high-school, had zero job prospects nor any hope for gaining employment, had just experienced a devastating breakup with his first-ever girlfriend, and was in constant conflict with his dad. He had lost control of his living space and was living amongst garbage and food waste, and simply did not know where to begin cleaning up his space, his life, or his mind. Everything felt like it was just too much. When his dad, frustrated, would challenge his inactivity, Marcus felt further put down and worthless. Why even try if nothing would make a difference and if he would never be ‘good enough’?

Thanks to Cowichan Valley Youth Service’s mobile outreach counselling support, Marcus, who lived rurally and far from access to public transportation, was able to connect with a skilled counsellor who picked him up directly from his house. Over the span many months, at his own pace, Marcus built a relationship of trust with the counsellor. Afraid at first to share his thoughts of worthlessness or the state of his living conditions, it took time for him to trust that she wouldn’t judge him or put him down as was a common experience with his family members. He began to share more about the barriers he was facing – the conflict with his parent, the constant state of depression, the lack of motivation and hope for the future – and together they began exploring ways Marcus could once again regain a sense of control over his life.

One small step at a time – the phrase that became the mantra of their sessions together. What started as a daily walk turned into other small changes in habits. Marcus’ counsellor spent a few sessions helping him to clean his living space so he could have a fresh start and facilitated conversations between him and his parent to aid in their communication patterns. Marcus soon finished the final course needed to graduate high school and got a job at a local retail establishment. Within the first four months there was named ‘employee of the month.’ His confidence bloomed and, in every way, Marcus is now on the path to truly thriving

Thank you, Island Savings & First West Credit Union, for making this transformation possible for Marcus and for helping countless other youth in Cowichan to thrive We are thrilled that we can continue to share with you these stories of change into the 2025-26 year, thanks to your multiyear partnership!

Setting a New Standard in Corporate Partnerships

In addition to the generous financial contribution in support of our Youth & Family Outreach Counselling, Island Savings team members have expanded our existing partnership through their ongoing donations of in-kind support toward our Youth Employment Mentorship Program.

The Youth Employment Mentorship Program (YEMP) seeks to equip youth between the ages of 15-30 years old with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in their careers. YEMP is about building a foundation for success that lasts long after the conclusion of the program. One of the ways that CVYS achieves this goal is by partnering with community organizations that are champions for youth and excited to support and empower our future generations.

Since the very beginning of our partnership, Island Savings Duncan Branch team members have been dedicated supporters of YEMP, providing invaluable support through in-kind hours, hands-on presentations, and clothing donations. The team volunteers their time to teach critical financial literacy concepts that directly complement the budgeting and money management aspects of our YEMP curriculum. These discussions with help the youth understand how to best manage their paychecks, navigate credit cards and loans, and make informed decisions about their finances.

The impact of these teachings is profound, giving young people the confidence to take charge of their finances, both personally and professionally. Furthermore, the sessions offered by Island Savings fit seamlessly into our broader curriculum, particularly our RentSmart training. As the youth learn about tenancy rights, understanding landlord expectations, and maintaining a safe and secure living environment, Island Savings’ lessons on home ownership provide a powerful complement. Topics like saving for a down payment, understanding mortgages, and the costs associated with owning a home help youth envision long-term financial goals. These lessons give participants a clear sense of how to create financial stability in their future. Housing and employment are intertwined, and Island Savings helps youth understand this connection. After all, “You can’t get a job without housing, and you can’t get housing without a job.”

Island Savings’ involvement goes far beyond just teaching financial literacy. Their team also donates professional clothing, both new and gently used, to ensure that youth who may not have the resources to purchase interview attire are ready to enter the workforce with confidence. This thoughtful gesture means the world to our participants. Many have shared how receiving interview clothing has helped them feel more prepared and professional when meeting with potential employers. This donation of clothing ensures that the youth feel prepared for the workforce, addressing a key barrier that many face when entering the job market.

Island Savings’ financial literacy workshops, along with their generous donations, greatly contribute to preparing our youth for the workforce and life beyond the program. By combining financial skills with practical resources like professional clothing, Island Savings has helped to equip youth with not only the knowledge to manage their finances but also the confidence and tools they need to step into their careers and independent lives with confidence. The feedback we've received from past cohorts highlights the lasting impact Island Savings has had on our youth. Many youths have shared that they feel better prepared for the future, understanding not just how to manage their paychecks but also how to make smart financial decisions as they enter adulthood. One youth shared that the financial literacy discussions, particularly around the topic of home ownership and loans, helped them understand what steps they need to take to be successful in achieving their long-term goals. Another participant shared that having professional clothing made them feel confident and prepared to apply for jobs in person while still in the program.

Thanks to Island Savings’ continued support, our youth are leaving the program with more than just job skills they are leaving with the confidence and tools to navigate financial independence and self-sufficiency. Island Savings is truly making a lasting impact on the lives of the young people enrolled in YEMP, and we are incredibly grateful for their ongoing commitment to the future generations.

Huy tseep q’u siem (thank you, respected friends), for your incredible partnership!