UBC REC's Lace Up For Kids

Support Lace up for Kids!

Join us at UBC REC's Lace Up for Kids in support of children with United Way’s School’s Out: Thursday, November 24, 2011 at the UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena 6 pm -2 am, 6066 Thunderbird Blvd, University of British Columbia.

We all want children to be their best, but children age 6 to 12 are experiencing increased isolation and disconnection. United Way-funded research conducted with UBC experts reports that almost 50% of children in Grade 7 say they are unhappy with their lives. Without early help, these children are at risk during their teen years.

United Way’s School’s Out investment stream leads the way in helping children be active, social, and engaged after school.

Groundbreaking research - resulting from a partnership between United Way of the Lower Mainland - UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership, the Faculty of Education at UBC, and the Vancouver School Board - guides United Way’s investment in children. Programs address children’s social-emotional development, connectedness, positive school experiences, physical health and well-being, and constructive use of after-school time.

Through support to dozens of quality after-school programs in Surrey, the Tri-Cities, Burnaby and Langley, children have access to the following:

• academic tutoring to ensure no child falls behind;
• recreation programs to ensure optimum physical health and well being,
• peer and role model development to help them build positive relationships.

In 2011, United Way has grown School’s Out funding by expanding to Richmond and the North Shore. This enabled United Way and our partners to further expand Schools Out programs, such as physical health and recreation programs, to various sites. In fact:

• United Way’s 2011/12 School’s Out funding increased by 50% over 2010/11, for a total investment of $1.52 million this year in quality after-school programs.
• With these increased resources, United Way has not only continued to support programs in Surrey, the Tri-Cities, Burnaby and Langley, but was able to fund four after-school projects on the North Shore and two in Richmond.
• The number of children accessing United Way funded after-school programs on an annual basis is approximately 3,500. With this increased investment we can now help our funded partners reach an additional 1,500, making it possible for a total of 4,500 children who have limited options to participate in healthy and safe activities when they are not in school.

Yet across the Lower Mainland, there remains a shortage of programs and inconsistent quality when it comes to out-of-school care for children age 6 to 12. With your help, we plan to change that.

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