1. Section One
A. Mission Statement
MANDATE:
The mandate of the Whitney Pier Youth Club is to offer and
provide youth and their families, opportunities to further
their individual self-worth. The core values of the youth
club include: educational development, self-worth, healthy
growth, individual growth, sense of belonging, self-value,
cultural understanding, and adventure.
The mission statement of the organization is:
A Youth don=t care what you know, until they know that you
care@.
B. Vision Statement
To assist all youth and community members through positive
proactive programming that will develop them into strong
community focused active adults.
C. Organizational
Goals
The organizational goals are as follows:
AIMS AND GOALS:
The aim of the Whitney Pier Youth Club is to provide
broadly-based social/lifestyle programs designed to provide
children and youth between the ages of five and twenty with
the information, skills, and experiences required to develop
their potential as fully-functioning members of the
community. To achieve this, the WPYC offers a wide array of
both structured and unstructured programs and activities in
such areas as culture, employment, independent living, and
popular education, as well as recreationally based programs.
The goal of the WPYC is to identify the general areas of
action that must be taken to achieve this aim. These goals
are as follows:
1. To provide a comprehensive and diversified range of
recreation, life-style and leisure programs which are
commensurate with the social, health, educational and
vocational needs of the community.
2. To organize and administer the programs and services of
the WPYC in the most appropriate manner to ensure the most
efficient delivery of services.
3. To secure community partnerships (monitory and in-kind)
and to have a broad and diversified funding base to meet the
expressed needs of the community and to ensure the
appropriate allocation of these resources to maximize the
use of donated funds.
4. To establish an appropriate and effective Human Resource
Management System/Skill Development applicable to both
volunteers and paid staff.
5. To present a strong, consistent, and positive public
image of our organization, its aim, goals, and objectives to
all levels of the community we operate within.
6. To encourage community involvement and representation at
all levels of the organization to ensure responsiveness to
community needs.
BACKGROUND:
Whitney Pier is a community of 10,000, consisting of people
from all over the world who came here at the turn of the
century to work at Sydney Steel. It is the most diverse
multicultural community in Nova Scotia. We have backgrounds
from Black Loyalist, West Indies, French Acadian, Ukraine,
Poland, Italy, Barbados, Asia, Ireland, Scotland, to name a
few. We have the highest families raised by single mothers’
rate in Nova Scotia. With the closure of Sydney Steel, our
unemployment rate is very high, around 45 %. We have the
distinction of having North America’s Worst Environmental
Hazard (Tar Ponds & Coke Ovens from 100 yrs. of steel
making) in our back yard. See www.muggah.org to learn more.
The Whitney Pier Youth Club is a non-profit organization
that has been actively serving the needs of the youth in the
city of Sydney. Over the last several years, the club has
been rejuvenating both its structure and programming so that
the Club can effectively meet the needs of the youth and
play a major role in the community development of our youth.
African Proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child”
Youth don't care what you know, until they know that you
care.
2. Section Two
A. Scope
The Whitney Pier Youth Club Society is a youth oriented,
non-profit, registered charity operating since 1994 by a
volunteer Board of Directors. The organization was formally
incorporated in March of 1989 and formally known as the
Sydney Police Boys and Girls Club.
The Whitney Pier Youth Club works to develop, adapt,
administer, facilitate and/or deliver programs and services
that promote the well being of youth and their families
within the community of Whitney Pier and beyond. The age
range of the youth/children involved with most programs is
five to fifteen years old.
Given the scarce nature of resources, the Whitney Pier Youth
Club places a particular focus on those who have the least
access to available resources.
The Whitney Pier Youth Club conducts its work in a
participatory manner. It is focused on creating supportive
environments, encouraging participation and involvement, and
building capacity. Work occurs at the individual, project,
community and/or system level.
B. Program
Initiatives
Ongoing initiatives of the Whitney Pier Youth Club include
the following:
1. Physical Active Lifestyle (Pier PAL)
The Whitney Pier Youth Club has a long history of promoting
health and physical activity among the youth in our
community. In order to meet the needs and interests of the
youth, we use our Physically Active Lifestyles Programming:
- Weightlifting Program
- Winter Gym Program
- Team Sport Program (soccer, baseball, basketball, floor
hockey)
- Olympic Taekwondo Program
- Community Garden Program
- Summer Program
We ensure that all of the youth who are involved with any
activity within the Club participate in a daily minimum of
one hour of vigorous physical activity, as outlined by the
Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute. We
recognize that youth who are healthy and involved in
structured physical activity perform better in academics,
exhibit positive behavior socially, and tend to make
positive life choices. We also recognize that as education
level increases, the amount of physical activity tends to
decrease. Our goal through this program is to ensure that
the youth of our community learn to healthy lifestyle
routines while they are young, and continue to make choices
that allow them to live healthy, productive lives. The
Whitney Pier Youth Club will work in partnership with
Whitney Pier Memorial Junior High, and Harbourside
Elementary School.
2. Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
This program centers on promoting physical activity and a
providing a clean and healthy environment for youth to
enjoy. Our program focuses on youth being physically active
in today’s computer and video game oriented society. We plan
to introduce physical activity (sports, games, dance, drama)
nutrition and snacking tips, to have guest presenters from
local sports organizations to demonstrate healthy lifestyles
as well as encourage the youth to adopt the more active
lifestyle that they learn about in the program. We hope to
demonstrate how physical activity and good nutrition can
enrich their lives.
3. Summer Program (Recreation)
The focused is on the youth being physically active in
today's computer and video game oriented society. We plan to
introduce physical activity, sports, nutrition, and
demonstrate healthy lifestyles as well as encourage the
youth to adopt what they learn in the program. We will be
involved in community activities in the summer months
(Action Week Activities and the Mini Olympics). There will
be weekly Dance and Drama classes, a community based
partnership program with the local SPCA, and our usual
hiking and beach trips.
4. Community Garden Project
The Whitney Pier Youth Club has organized and facilitated
various agricultural proposals which worked to build youths'
awareness of the agricultural community that currently
exists in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
Additionally, through building youths’ agricultural
knowledge, we have helped youth involved in our Garden
Projects to develop a critical eye when evaluating the
agricultural practices that are in use in the CBRM. Our
Community Beautification Programs have always been based on
the need for youth to become actively involved in local
ecological issues in order to preserve the integrity of the
agricultural systems of CBRM. Ultimately, our Gardening and
Community Beautification Projects have been a local
pro-active response to a much larger and more threatening
decline in sustainable agricultural communities around the
World.
5. Community Partnerships
The Whitney Pier Youth Club depends on the support of
community sponsors to assist with the financial burden
incurred in the creation and maintenance of programming. We
also establish partnerships with various agencies in the
community that can offer specific resources and services to
youth that may be unavailable to youth who come to the Club
for help with various issues.
6. Youth Development & Leadership Programs
The Whitney Pier Youth Club has coordinated a variety of
youth internship programs in conjunction with the federal
government. These programs allowed youth to gain valuable
training and experience in various workplaces throughout the
community. We also offer a variety of empowerment and
mentoring programs to allow our older youth members to
become examples both to our younger members and the
community at large
7. Youth Educational Sessions
The Whitney Pier Youth Club, as part of our regular
programming, routinely brings in guest speakers and
presenters to speak to youth on various issues of concern to
our members. We have also hosted educational programs
through outside agencies to teach youth about business and
job skills, teen sexuality, and health issues.
8. Summer Camping Programs
The WPYC has established a partnership with Tim Horton’s
Summer Camps and Camp Aitebreagh (Orangedale) with Community
Services Department. Youth from the WPYC attend these camps
and enjoy a few weeks of great outdoor activities.
9. Community Justice Program
To assist the youth in the Island Community Justice Program
who are currently involved with the Justice Department as
young offenders, and to create prevention and awareness
programming for youth who are at risk of becoming young
offenders. This assistance will take the form of
supervising, assisting, monitoring and direction to these
youth who are doing Community Service hours, as well as
working with Island Community Justice Staff and the Cape
Breton Regional Police to identify potential young offenders
and bring them into the Prevention programs. This will help
the youth to better understand the Justice System and to be
aware of the consequences of criminal acts, as well as
understand the role of Island Community Justice Society.
10. WHAT IS THE YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM?
This proposal is aimed at creating and increasing an
awareness of the history of the Whitney Pier Youth Club and
the history of the Whitney Pier area by means of information
technology methods such as a Website, CD, digital
photography, PowerPoint as well as traditional print-based
means.
It has been well established that many of today's youth are
unfamiliar with the rich cultural heritage of Whiney Pier,
the achievements of the area youth past and present, and the
contributions made by the Whitney Pier Youth Club for the
youth in the community. Many methods of harnessing and
managing the vast historical information are rather
outdated. They simply do not correspond with how young
people obtain their information. This project will produce a
product that is web ready!
The Whitney Pier Youth Club, in partnership with the Whitney
Pier Historical Society, the Black Community Development
Office and other community stakeholders believe it is time
that the communities stories be told to a 21st century
audience. Our story should be shared with all youth. In
fact, this is an opportunity to share our communities with
the rest of the world.
Y.A.P. STAFF -- November 28, 2005 - May 25, 2006
C. Organizational Chart - Program Initiatives
Insert Organization Chart - Programs Here
D. Inter-sectoral
Approach
The Whitney Pier Youth Club takes an inter-sectoral approach
to its work and, as such, initiates, engages, develops,
facilitates and/or maintains partnerships with others whose
work is focused on a similar population. This may include
participants; informal/formal community groups; health care
providers; community agencies, organizations, and networks;
the business community; school boards; academia; government
agencies and departments; researchers; policy makers; etc.
Key to the work of the Whitney Pier Youth Club is the
establishment and maintenance of positive working
relationships with these sectors that focus on supporting
healthy youth and community development. Networking, joint
planning, and strategic partnerships are highly valued and
considered to be the most effective way to move the
organization=s mission and vision forward, while avoiding
duplication of existing services.
E. Communication
Strategy
Effective communication is critical to optimizing the
organization=s capacity. Communication between the Board of
Directors and the Executive Director occurs during scheduled
board meetings. Board members also communicate between
meetings with the Executive Director in person, via
telephone or electronic means, during committee meetings or
other meetings as deemed necessary.
Communication among staff occurs during day-to-day
operations, regular staff meetings, staff reports, telephone
contact, electronic means, written communication,
supervisory meetings, performance enhancement interviews,
site visits, and by adopting an open-door approach as
operations permit. Professional development and program
planning days also provide good communication opportunities.
F.
Organizational Structure
The policies and procedures contained within this manual are
designed to offer both Board members and staff a helpful,
concise, and clear description of the working partnership
among all parties. Any questions or concerns regarding such
policies and procedures should be directed to the Executive
Director.
It is the responsibility of all staff and Board members to
read and become familiar with this policy and procedures
manual. Suggestions for edits, additions, and revisions are
encouraged and can be made to the person to whom you most
directly report and/or to the Executive Director for
consideration.
1. Board of Directors
The organization is operated by a volunteer Board of
Directors who represent various community minded people and
organizations across Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
Board membership ranges from four to twelve members as
outlined in the by-laws of the organization.
Every effort is made to ensure that members of the
community, parents and youth are well represented on the
Board. As well, every effort is made to have appropriate
geographical representation on the Board. Board members are
sought based on particular skill sets required by the
organization taking into consideration geography, work
and/or life experience. Board members sit on the Board as
individuals and therefore do not represent others, or their
personal employers while acting as a member of the Board.
The Board operates as a Policy Governance board as described
by Carver Governance Design Inc. As such, it is designed
particularly to operate in a fashion that maintains strong
strategic focus for the organization. The focus of the
Board=s work is thus on the end result, leaving the means to
staff. Therefore, the Board is not responsible for the
day-to-day operation of the organization. The Board employs
an Executive Director to oversee the daily administration
and functioning of the Whitney Pier Youth Club. It is the
Board=s responsibility to hire, fire, discipline and
evaluate the Executive Director. In keeping with the Carver
Governance model, the Board has no role in any other
individual personnel matters. Board members set limits
within which the Executive Director operates. Also in
keeping with this model, the Board is characterized by few
distinct officer or individual member roles, and few
committees.
2. Executive Director
The Executive Director is responsible and accountable to the
Board of Directors for the overall administration and
functioning of the organization. The Executive Director
works with the Board of Directors to ensure that the work
undertaken moves the organization closer to reaching its
organizational goals. He/she ensures that the organization
operates within the policies and procedures outlined in this
manual.
The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of
Directors.
3. Program Coordinator(s)
Program Coordinators work with the Executive Director to
help manage the day-to-day operations of the organization.
Key areas of responsibility include staff supervision,
program implementation, scheduling and management.
Program Coordinator(s) report directly to the Executive
Director.
4. Office Administrator/Administrative Assistant(s)
The Office Administrator and Administrative Assistant(s)
work with the Program Coordinators and the Executive
Director providing administrative/financial/clerical support
functions for the Whitney Pier Youth Club and its related
programs and services.
The Office Administrator reports directly to the Executive
Director. Administrative Assistant(s) report to either a
Program Coordinator or the Executive Director, as deemed
appropriate.
5. Youth Workers (Direct Service Providers)
The remaining positions within the organization are those of
Youth Workers (direct service providers), or front-line
staff. Programs, services, and resources offered through the
organization are most oftentimes developed, modified and
facilitated by these key staff members. Staff within the
organization must be knowledgeable about all programs
operated by the organization. Each staff member is
recognized as having his or her particular area of
expertise. Through the multi-disciplinary approach embraced
by the organization, staff works together as a team, and
with others not directly employed by the organization, to
reach the goals established.
The Youth Workers (Direct Service Providers) report directly
to their assigned Program Coordinator. They are also
required to report directly to the Executive Director, as
requested.
G.
Organizational Chart - Staffing
Key Stakeholders (Youth, Program participants, volunteers,
funding bodies, partner agencies and organizations,
communities, related sectors, communities, systems)
Board of Directors
Executive Director
Office Administrator
Program Coordinator
Youth Workers ( Direct Service Providers):
WPYC School Year Program
(September-June)
Youth Workers (Direct Service Providers):
WPYC Summer Program
(July-August)
Youth Workers ( Direct Service Providers)
All other programs, projects and proposals
Office Location and Contact Information
Whitney Pier Youth Club
Cape Breton Regional Municipality
PO Box 806
111 West Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1N-1S3
Phone: (902) 567-0240 Fax: (902) 567-0853
Website: www.whitneypieryouthclub.ca
Staff Members: Executive Director: Chester Borden wpyc@ns.sympatico.ca
Youth Worker: Mark Gardiner wpyc@ns.sympatico.ca
Youth Worker: wpyc@ns.sympatico.ca
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