Thanks to you and your support, we've been able to change the futures of vulnerable youth in Calgary!
Thousands of children in Calgary experience poverty and face vulnerable circumstances. Every child deserves access to a safe, free, and enriching after-school environment where they can feel supported, build relationships, and thrive.
That’s where we come in! Our goal is to provide children with a “home away from home” — a safe and welcoming environment where they have reliable access to nutritious food, engaging after-school programming, and opportunities to learn and grow.
YCC operates out of a warm, welcoming, home-like environments located within walking distance of schools and homes in vulnerable communities.
Monday through Thursday, from 2:30-6:00p.m., and Fridays from 12:00-5:00p.m., children and youth ages 8-15 are welcomed into our centres for a safe, supportive, and enriching after-school experience. During these hours and school breaks, they have access to healthy snacks, technology, musical instruments in our music rooms, and opportunities to play sports in our garages, on our sport courts, or at nearby parks.
Each day, children and youth are served a hot meal, many of which are generously donated by our incredible community supporters. After dinner, each child is assigned a daily chore, such as sweeping the floors, or helping with the dishes. Once their chore is complete, they are rewarded with a treat, helping to foster a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and community.
Research has shown that access to safe, supportive spaces can contribute to lower crime rates, higher high school graduation rates, and reduced youth involvement in risky behaviours, while also providing valuable support for families.
None of this would be possible without the generosity, compassion, and dedication of the many incredible people in Calgary who help make YCC’s safe spaces a reality.
Calgary Youth Centres proven model for positively impacting vulnerable youth includes the following guiding principles:
With these core systems in place and donor support, YCC plans to build on the growth and progress already made at the centres, while exploring new opportunities to expand our programs, strengthen our impact, and better serve the needs of youth and families in both communities.
Hello to the wonderful Friends of YCC, Summer camp is finally here and the kids could not be more excited. They crowd the steps of the centres every morning, waiting for the doors to open while staff prepare trays of fruit and breakfast food for the hungry campers. It’s not easy being a kid, even…
Dear Parents, Family and Caregivers to the kids of YCC! We hope you are having a wonderful summer!! Summer is NOT over, but I want to give you a little update on how things are going and what is upcoming at YCC. Here you go! 1. Kids, families, neighbours and school colleagues are invited to come to…
Dear Parents, Family and Caregivers to the kids of YCC! We hope you are having a wonderful summer!! Summer is NOT over, but I want to give you a little update on how things are going and what is upcoming at YCC. Here you go! 1. Kids, families, neighbours and school colleagues are invited to come to…
We believe that youth have the right to healthy ‘out of school’ support that sets them on a path to breaking cycles of poverty.
We empower youth to contribute to their choices and wellbeing, to their family, and to their community.
We embrace the unique identities and experiences of all and model respect for self, volunteers, friends, and property.
We value our position as a trusted grassroots community service, and we commit to accountability, transparency, and efficiency for responsible use of all our resources.
Locating in the most vulnerable communities, we reduce the financial, physical, and emotional impacts of poverty for youth and their families, giving youth a chance to grow and succeed by providing a safe and inclusive space where:
Join others who have made a significant difference in the communities of Ogden and Forest Lawn with the youth we serve every day!
Some of the ways you can be involved in changing real lives: