DIRECTORY OF NOVA SCOTIA FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRES

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Chester and Area Family Resource Centre      Page last updated February 16, 2005 8 Tremont Street PO Box 99 Chester, Nova Scotia B0J 1J0 Tel: (902) 275-4347 Fax: (902) 275-2013 cafrc@ns.aliantzinc.ca www.chesterfamilycentre.ca Programs & Services offered at Chester and Area Family Resource Centre (Click for a complete listing) Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 6:30am - 6:00pm Wherehouse (youth centre) Friday 5:00pm - 10:00pm; Saturday 3:00pm - 10:00pm; Sunday 1:00pm - 6:00pm Setting: Free-standing centre Established: 1994 Clientele: Entire municipality of Chester Are user fees charged? Yes. Quite low. The after-school program, pre-teen program, and pre-school program all have fees. Playgroup program is by donation. Most of the parenting courses are free Any eligibility requirements? Age requirements. 0-6 for playgroup. 3-5 for preschool program. 5-12 for after school. Pre-teen is 10-13. Major Funder: No sustainable funding. Program fees is main stream of revenue. Close second is donations and fundraising. Other Funders: Food, supplies, building lease -- all in-kind. Repairs, maintenance – in-kind Annual Operating Budget (range): $300,000-$499,999 Best Practices: CLICK (Creating Links in Community Knowledge) youth mentoring seniors on computers. Received money from Dept. of Justice. Aliant and Microsoft have supplied equipment. Multi-generational program Youth centre. Successful youth centre operating for 3-1/2 years Exist without funding. Very good at writing grants and fundraising Extensive work on governance. Board is high-level on governance. Good policy manuals, board manuals, and parent manuals developed Have a small presentation for teaching others on what works and doesn’t on fundraising Good at accountability and recordkeeping Future Program Development: Preschool daycare (needed desperately in municipality). As well, trying to launch a community transportation initiative