This form is to be completed and submitted by the healthcare worker who is providing mental health related services supporting the child/youth with their mental health recovery.
What are AOK Project Wellness Grants?
The AOK Project provides wellness grants to children, youth, and their families who have been affected by mental health and are in need of financial support.
Wellness grant requests are for items or services that directly help a child or youth’s mental health recovery. Grants can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including:
- Course registration
- Art Supplies
- Sports equipment
- Program registration fees
- Educational programs
- Recreational programs
- Healthcare needs
- Personal hygiene items
(note - gift cards are not eligible)
What is the Circle of Kindness?
The circle begins when donors within our community contribute to The AOK Project’s fundraising efforts.
The AOK Project then channels these donations to Wellness Grant Recipients.
Recipients are encouraged to provide their own act of kindness to a person or organization of their choice. Through this additional act of kindness, wellness grant recipients experience gratitude and compassion for themselves and others. This creates and fosters Circles of Kindness.
Application deadline for the next set of wellness grants is in process. We currently have grants available for up to $150.00
If application due date has passed and an urgent wellness grant is needed, please email info@theaokproject.ca to inquire about grant availability.
Submission of an application does not guarantee the selection and distribution of a grant. Grants will be awarded through a random selection process from a total pool of all eligible applications. All grants are subject to board approval and will be assessed to ensure they support the AOK Project’s vision as well as being in accordance with the Canada Revenue Agency Charitable Directorate interpretation of ‘Charitable by Law’. Individuals are eligible to receive funding once every two years. Only one grant can be applied for at a time.
Topics to discuss with a child or youth before applying:
- Explain the AOK Circle of Kindness model
- Explore ways a wellness grant could support their recovery
- Encourage them to consider ways they could complete the Circle of Kindness and ensure they understand that they will be asked to submit the Circle Of Kindness Completion Card and return it to The AOK Project. Click here: theaokproject.ca/card
- Some examples of Acts of Kindness include: volunteer at an organization of your choice, let someone go in front of you in line, let someone take your seat on the bus, send a kind and uplifting note to someone who needs it, let someone know how much you appreciate them, offer to make a meal for someone or do something that is related to your hobby and give that item away (example: painting or something knitted)
Items to consider when applying:
- The request should support mental health and recovery by reducing stress, increasing happiness, supporting mood, self-esteem, and social connectedness.
- Awarded funds cannot be administered directly to the client or the client’s guardian. Funds will be issued directly to a store, or an institution or agency that is in an arms-length relationship with intended grant recipient. Awarded funds may only be used for the intended purpose described in the application. No gift card or cash grant payments.
- Healthcare workers are responsible for ensuring the requested item is readily available to purchase by The AOK Project. For online purchases, the website and link should be provided. The item will be shipped to the healthcare worker’s place of work for them to give to the child/youth. For items requested from a local business, or for course registration, the healthcare worker is responsible to arrange that payment may be made by credit card or e-transfer over the phone by The AOK Project (contact name and phone number are to be provided). The child/youth or healthcare worker is responsible for picking up the item. Should the item or service not be available or accessible, The AOK Project will contact the healthcare worker. Receipts are required for all transactions.
- The board reserves the right to suggest an alternative should a less expensive option be available.
- AOK Wellness Grants are provided up to a maximum amount. Please consider ways to provide acts of kindness in fiscally responsible ways so that the needs of as many children and youth as possible are met. For example, if your grant is for $150 and the need for the child is only $100, please know that the extra funds will support another child, youth or family.
What happens after the selection process?
After selection has taken place, healthcare workers will be notified by email as to whether their application has been chosen for grant distribution.
The AOK Project will purchase the item as per the grant application. Once the wellness grant has been fulfilled, the wellness grant recipient will be asked to submit the Circle Of Kindness Completion Card and return it to The AOK Project. Click here. Health care workers may assist the child/youth in selecting a person or organization to provide an act of kindness and in completing and submitting the Circle of Kindness Completion Card. This process teaches and encourages the skills of compassion, empathy and resilience.
To better understand our mission and the purpose of the wellness grant, please visit our website (www.theaokproject.ca) before completing the form.
Referral information to be completed by healthcare worker.