The Community Foundation Grey Bruce is offering a new program to award $5,000 in support of residents pursuing palliative care training.
Foundation Executive Director Stuart Reid says they are awarding the funding to people who are looking to attain palliative care skills and knowledge.
“The award was set up as a fund called the Dr. Hilli Huff Palliative Care Education Fund. It was opened by a number of local doctors in 2019 that wanted to encourage continuing education in palliative care, and it was really a tribute to all of the contributions that Dr. Hilli Huff has made to the field in Grey Bruce,” says Reid.
Reid says residents are to apply through the community foundation and would be provided funds to help off set any costs associated with receiving palliative care education and skills training.
Reid adds the support is not limited to those who are pursuing post-secondary education.
“This is the first time we are welcoming applications, so we are really interested to learn about the types of training that people are going to apply for, so it really is open. Of course formalized educational courses are eligible, maybe at a workshop or a shorter amount of training. We are really interested in learning what people come to us to seek support for,” says Reid.
Reid says they are hoping the $5,000 will be able to support a number of people going into the palliative care field.
He adds the award amount may vary depending on how many successful applications there are. Applicants will not receive 100 per cent of the costs for their training, but will be awarded depending on what they ask for in their application.
“More people that have training and awareness about the best practices in relation to caring for others at the final stages of life, I think it just makes for a more caring and greater well-being in our community for all families and individuals,” says Reid.
The application can be filled out on the foundation web page here before the deadline on Oct. 31.
Residents can also reach out to Grants and Donor Relations Coordinator Jennifer Legge at 519-371-7203 or jen.legge@cfgb.ca to discuss eligibility.
