Surrey invests $4.5M in youth initiatives to strengthen community safety
The City of Surrey is proud to announce a significant $4.5M investment over three years in youth resiliency programs.
Surrey, BC - The City of Surrey is proud to announce a significant $4.5M investment over three years in youth resiliency programs. Building upon the success of the SAFE program, this enhanced initiative takes a comprehensive approach to strengthening youth resilience by expanding services to proactively address risk factors, including harm, victimization, and exploitation. As the program has evolved, its focus has shifted from solely addressing gang violence to a more holistic model that empowers youth to overcome adversity and thrive in their communities.
"We are thrilled to unveil a new era of innovative initiatives, tailored to empower a brighter future for our youth," said Mayor Brenda Locke. "As we continue to invest in the next generation, the City of Surrey remains committed to cultivating resilient and thriving communities. Through this substantial funding, we are not only supporting programs but investing in the long-term prosperity and well-being of our residents – particularly our families and youth. This strategic investment is a testament to our unwavering commitment to creating a safer, more vibrant, and resilient city where everyone can prosper and thrive."
These new programs described below are expected to support over 2,000 Surrey residents:
- DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society’s SAFE Counselling receiving $300,000 annually to provide structured and culturally sensitive clinical counselling to 6-17-year-olds and their parents.
- Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver’s SHINE receiving $300,000 annually to provide community-based one-on-one mentorship and clinical counselling to 6- to 24-year-olds and their parents.
- Family Services of Greater Vancouver’s Parent Teen Mediation receiving $110,000 annually to support 13- to 19-year-olds in addressing interpersonal conflict with their parents.
- Pacific Community Resources Society’s Learning to Lead Youth Resiliency receiving $300,000 annually to provide 14- to 17-year-olds with one-one-one mentorship as well as community-based group activities centred around community service and adventure-based recreation.
- Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society’s StrengthQuest receiving $190,000 annually to provide community-based one-on-one mentorship to 9- to 24-year-olds and guidance to their parents as appropriate.
- Surrey Women’s Centre’s The Seen Project receiving $300,000 annually to provide individualized outreach and support groups for 13- to 24-year-old female survivors of gender-based violence and their parents.
"This $4.5M investment is an investment in the future of the city as well as the wellbeing of our youth,” said Councillor Rob Stutt, Chair of the Surrey Public Safety Committee and a member of the Surrey Police Board. “This investment is a crucial step in ensuring that we can build a community of youth that can overcome any adversity. I am happy that we can provide support to this new generation of programs. It is this action that demonstrates our commitment to making a safer and more resilient city."
The SAFE Program was initially launched in 2019 following the recommendations of the Mayor’s Task Force on Gang Violence Prevention. The SAFE program, initially funded with $7.5 million in federal funding, was the first-of-its-kind multi-agency approach to preventing and addressing youth gang involvement. In 2024, the city assumed complete financial responsibility of the program after the initial federal funding ran out. SAFE Program’s success led to Mayor Locke announcing in December 2023 that Council was investing $6M to extend the initiative for an additional four years.