The Foundry Victoria opened in a new location on Wednesday which has almost double the space from its former location.
The new location at 546 Yates Street is a few blocks away from where it used to be.
The Foundry, operated by Victoria Youth Clinic Society, offers mental health and addiction care for those aged 12 to 24. In 2022, the Victoria Foundry saw a 22 per cent increase in clients, serving a total of 2,500 youth and families using the service.
“Making sure young people have access to the wraparound supports they need to thrive is critical to building strong and vibrant communities,” said Jennifer Whiteside, minister of mental health and addictions.
“In this new location, Foundry Victoria will be able to continue to provide vital supports in a low-barrier and stigma-free environment so that more young people and their families can get the supports they need, where and when they need it.”
The new location offers almost double the number of exam rooms, youth-friendly and trauma-informed talking and group rooms, private outdoor patios and a low-stimulation lounge connected to the main greeting area.
“We want youth and their families to know that at Foundry Victoria they can access the care they need in a space where they feel like they belong. The move to 546 Yates has enabled us to scale up the good work we are already doing, enabling more young people in our community to work towards their wellness goals,” says Ricki Justice, executive director of Foundry Victoria.
“We are so grateful for the way the community has rallied around us to make this exciting project possible.”
This move continues on the expansion of the Victoria Youth Clinic Society, which started in 1998 as a two-room clinic in the James Bay Community Centre.
“We are beyond thrilled that Foundry Victoria now has a brand-new expanded centre to better serve the complex health and wellness challenges faced by youth in the Greater Victoria Area,” said Steve Mathias, Foundry’s co-executive director.
“Foundry’s vision is to always meet youth where they’re at and support them to live good lives. This new centre speaks to Foundry’s commitment to tailoring, evolving and growing our centres and services to provide the best possible wellness resources for young people in this province.”
The Foundry Victoria will host an open house on Nov. 18 from 12 to 4 p.m.
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Laura Brougham
