“Promoting a Healthy Drinking Culture in BC”

Convening Grants for Community DialoguesGuidelines and Application Form

Background

Drinking alcohol is a part of Canadian culture, and it is widely consumed and enjoyed by many across British Columbia (BC). However, a great deal of people are still not aware of the safe drinking limits based on Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines (see Appendix A), and how exceeding the limits can impact their health and family. Alcohol-related harms are on the rise in BC due to increasing levels of alcohol consumption.

There is still a common misconception that these alcohol-related harms are restricted to the small number of individuals who frequently drink in excess or are dependent on alcohol (high-risk drinkers). However, the majority of alcohol-related harm actually occurs amongst the much larger group of people who engage in moderate-risk drinking, occasional binge drinking and drinking in hazardous circumstances (e.g. before driving). The normalization of drinking alcohol can make this a challenging issue to examine and address.

Overview & Rationale

Community Action Initiative (CAI) was established by the BC Alliance for Mental Health/Illness in 2008 to support community-led projects focusing on mental health and substance use issues in British Columbia. CAI is looking for community-based organizations in municipalities across BC to lead and collaborate with other partners to explore alcohol-related harms caused by moderate-risk drinking in their community, and work together towards building a healthier drinking culture.

This funding opportunity aims to increase the capacity of community-based organizations in the mental health and substance use sector, and their wider communities, to dedicate time and resources to focus on this issue through inclusive dialogue, bringing together key players to examine and understand the use and impact of alcohol in their communities (see CAI Guide to Organizing Community Dialogue on Moderate-Risk Drinking). The focus is not on high-risk drinking (i.e. chronic substance abuse or alcoholism). While these are indeed important community concerns, they will not be the emphasis for these community dialogues.

CAI will award convening grants up to the value of $15,000 to community-based organizations to fund community dialogues around moderate-risk alcohol consumption. Dialogues can take different forms including one-off community events, a series of smaller conversations, or discussions with strategic collaborators taking a deeper dive into the issue.

In addition to the convening funds, grantees and their communities will be supported with alcohol-related resources and capacity-building tools, along with knowledge exchange opportunities.

Eligibility & Essential Requirements

The organization that applies will act as the lead agency and must be a non-government, not-for-profit, community-based organization or a First Nations Band, Metis or Aboriginal mandated organization. Non-government, not-for-profit, community-based organizations must supply proof of society registration or/charitable status as part of the application. Aboriginal applicants are exempt from this requirement.

Government agencies, for-profit businesses, research institutions, school boards, health authorities and primary care providers are not eligible to apply.

Essential requirements: Lead agency (and/or partners) must have experience, organizational capacity, and staff

resources to successfully lead the convening process and implement the proposed dialogue project

Strategies must include building strategic partnerships to plan and implement dialogue(s), engaging essential stakeholders, and involve representatives from any relevant target groups

Lead agency (and/or partners) must be able to provide in-person, teleconference, and if necessary virtual convening capabilities

Lead agency is responsible for managing the convening funds

Budget & Eligible Expenses

Lead agency can apply for up to $15,000 to support community dialogues. Proposed budget must include a breakdown of costs with clear rationale for each area No more than 10% of budget can be allocated to administration expenses Hiring of dialogue facilitator may be included under personnel expenses All funds must be spent by March 31, 2019

Reporting requirements

Reporting requirements will be developed in collaboration with successful applicants. The lead agency will be responsible for recording and submitting reporting and any relevant evaluation data (see CAI Evaluation Guide).

How to Apply

Applications need to be submitted using the form provided (saved in PDF format) and emailed or sent to CAI, and will start to be evaluated on July 15, 2018. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis until November 15, 2018, or before if all funding has been expended.

Please direct applications and any questions to:

Anna Harcourt, Project Coordinator

Community Action Initiative1183 Melville StreetVancouver, BCV6E 2X5

Tel. 604.638.1172Email: aharcourt@communityactioninitiative.ca

Convening Grant for Community Dialogue - Application FormDetails of Lead Agency

Lead Agency Name:

Type of Organization:

Address:

City: Province: Postal Code:

Telephone:

Primary Contact Person:

Telephone: Email:

CRA or BC society registration # (if applicable):

Community-based not-for-profit agency based in BC ☐ Yes ☐ No

First Nations, Métis or Aboriginal mandated organization ☐ Yes ☐ No

Name of Executive Director:

Telephone: Email:

Does your Executive Director support this application? ☐ Yes ☐ No

1. Does your agency have experience in convening or organizing community dialogues aimed at exploring and raising awareness of a population health issues in the community? If so, please describe (Max. 125 words)

2. Please summarize what form your community dialogue will take (e.g. a one-off community dialogue event, a series of smaller conversations, a deeper dive in collaboration with strategic partners)? Please identify any major activities or milestones throughout the project (Max. 300 words)

3. Which community partners will you be working with to plan and implement your dialogue(s), and how will collaboration among these partners be achieved? (Max. 150 words)

4. Describe how you will create a safe and inclusive space for your community dialogue on harms associated with moderate-risk alcohol use and the Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines (Max. 250 words)

5. Which other essential stakeholders do you hope to engage with and have participate in your dialogue(s) that are not currently engaged (i.e. local businesses, schools, family groups, municipality)? (Max. 125 words)

6. What barriers do you anticipate to engaging these other stakeholders? How will you overcome these barriers? (Max. 125 words)

7. Please describe any items that will be produced as a result of this convening/dialogue process (i.e. deliverables), e.g. brochures, articles, reports, evaluation data, posters, invitations (Max. 125 words)

Proposed BudgetPlease include additional lines as needed

Budget Items(Items below are just a guide)

Total Funding Requested from CAI

Total In-Kind Contribution (Lead Agency or Partner)

Personnel Expenses Project Coordinator Contracted services (consultants,

including dialogue facilitator if required):

Meeting/Communication Expenses

Travel/Transportation Expenses

Administrative Expenses (Maximum: 10%) Supplies

Other Expenses Publicity/Promotional Materials

Total

Lead AgencySignature of Executive Director or Equivalent: Date:

Print Name: Title/organization:

APPENDIX A – CANADA’S LOW-RISK ALCOHOL DRINKING GUIDELINES