www.bridgestobelonging.ca

2015-16Impact Report

Bridges to Belonging

Thank you for making 2015-16 such an amazing year for our organization!

We began the year as Facile Waterloo Region, a small organization serving about 25individuals and families in a month, and we’ve ended the year as Bridges to Belonging, asmall organization undergoing incredible growth, more than doubling our team andtripling the individuals and families served.

Meanwhile, in the background we’ve been setting the foundation for this growth,including:

• Renewing the Steering Committee/Board of Directors that guides our work;

• Developing a new Strategic Plan and adopting a new name, mission, and vision, which will benefit our work for years to come;

• Planning for new projects to be launched, including We Belong Waterloo Region, and our upcoming Creative Housing Program.

All that we have accomplished this year, we have accomplished together. All of ithas been possible because of you: our families, donors, supporters, volunteers, and ouramazing team. It’s because of you that more people are living great lives in thecommunity, and more people are inspired to create a community where everyonebelongs, where everyone values meaningful relationships, honours choices and dreams,and celebrates the uniqueness of each person.

We have a lot of work to do this year and in years to come, but we are confident wecan do it with your continued support.

Yours in inclusion,

A Message From Our Executive Director and Board Chair

To all of our families, donors, supporters,volunteers, and our team –

Amy FeeBoard Chair

Cameron DearloveExecutive Director

WHO WE AREBridges to Belonging supports you to build on

your unique abilities, to create the life you wantin the community.

Through Person-Directed Planning and IndependentFacilitation, we support individuals to build on theirunique abilities and create the life they want in thecommunity.

Our Independent Facilitators (IFs) work with eachindividual to make decisions and develop a plan for thelife they want to lead.

We see Waterloo Region as a community whereeveryone belongs – where we value meaningfulrelationships, honour choices and dreams, andcelebrate the uniqueness of each person.

Page 1

Once the individual has planned how they envisiontheir life, their IF will help to facilitate that plan andconnect the individual to supports and resources in thecommunity that will help them achieve their vision.

In a Participant Feedback Survey...

of participants reportedthat they were happy or

very happy with theirIndependent Facilitator

100%

Level of Personal Happiness (Home,Work, Friends, and Community) before

Bridges to Belonging vs. Today

Increase in reportedpersonal happiness

4.532.8TodayBefore Bridges to Belonging

"[My facilitator] helps me to see mycommunity for what it could be formyself, realize...my own potential."

How Happy are You with YourIndependent Facilitator?

Anonymous

The Waterloo RegionInclusion Film Series screensfilms that will inspire, model,or challenge our thinkingabout what inclusion means. Itis a chance for the communityto come together and enjoy afilm while considering what itmeans to be included.

Inclusion Film Series

EVENTS AND FUNDRAISERS

Page 2

At each showing we invitepartners and guest speakersconnected to each film, askingthem to share their storiesand speak about the workthey do to make WaterlooRegion, Canada, and theworld a more inclusive place.

Our film series will continueon through 2016-2017. 3rd Annual Jazz Night

Since 2013, Bridges toBelonging has celebrated

community with a night ofgreat music, food, drinks, and

a silent auction at The JazzRoom in Kitchener.

This year's performancesincluded music and dramatic

readings by our own focuspeople, as well as musical acts

by Rebecca Binnendyk, TimLouis, and Clark Johnston.

Thank you to all who donated,performed and attended for

making this fundraiser a greatsuccess! Mark February 7,

2017 for our next Jazz Night!

November 17

2015

On May 26, 2016, we partneredwith Extend-A-Family andAutism Services WaterlooRegion to host On the House: Afree evening out for caregiversof loved ones with disabilities.

With the help of Proof Kitchenand Lounge and Knox WaterlooPresbyterian Church, wetreated 20 caregivers to adelicious dinner and an eveningto themselves while we lookedafter their loved ones. Thanksto our partners for helping usmake this event a greatsuccess!

On the House

"Having a facilitator in our lives has made a world of difference. All of asudden I don't have to do everything myself, I'm not the one always askingfor help, and I'm discovering every day things my son can succeed at that

he might not have had the opportunity to try before."

Clare Hitchens, Bridges to Belonging family member

ONGOING PROJECTS

Facilitators' Networkof Waterloo Region

In April of 2015, Bridges toBelonging became part of a 2-year Independent Facilitation

Demonstration Projectfunded by the Ontario

Ministry of Community andSocial Services.

This project has allowed us toprovide support to 50 people

with developmentaldisabilities this year, helpingthem work toward their life

goals and become moreconnected to their

communities.

By the project's end in 2017,we aim to provide our service

to 85 individuals.

Page 3

Independent Facilitation Demonstration Project

FNWR is a community ofpractice – a place whereindependent facilitators,parents, self-advocates, andothers who do similar workcan come together to shareideas, inspiration,resources, and tools todevelop a culture ofinclusion in our community.

Relaunched in September2015, FNWR has had over270 people attend itsongoing workshop series.Workshops range fromroundtable discussions toguest speakers toinformation sessions withservice providers.

NetworkFacilitators'

2015

"Bridges To Belonging is FUN!"Anonymous

"Just being with her provides a general comfort as she issomeone I can openly talk to and figure out plans goingforward."

"I have been working with my Facilitator for a while. Wehave tried quite a few things and slowly I am starting to

put some passion back into my life."Graham, Bridges to Belonging Self-Advocate

Anonymous

"We sincerely appreciated meeting you today, Chaitali.Your attitude towards our son and his future

development, especially supporting him to develop apersonalized healthy way of cooking meals and teamwork with other supporters such as his social worker,job facilitator, etc. is most appreciated. Chaitali, you

seem to understand a wholistic approach for our son."

Marcy, Bridges to Belonging family member

"Cristin [my facilitator] is a special person in my life."Evie, Bridges to Belonging Self-Advocate

FINANCIALS

Summarized Statement of Expenses and Revenues2015-2016 Fiscal Year

Net RevenueGovernment FundingFeesGrantsFundraising and DonationsOtherAccess Fund (100 Women Who Care)Training Fees

Expenses

192, 51460, 820

9, 50019, 66913, 40723, 050

2, 019

Page 4

234, 38749, 380

5, 20613, 646

2, 025

Person-Directed Planning and Independent FacilitationOrganizational Staff CostsFundraising ExpensesTechnology and Office SuppliesOther Programs

312, 431

304, 645

Income Net of Expenses

Total Expenses

Net Income 7, 786

DONORS

We are incredibly grateful to the individuals, organizations, businesses,and foundations who have showed us their support.

Our thanks go to:

Page 5

Kathy CollinsCameron Dearlove

D.W. DietrichBruce and Jen Johnstone

Shirley LeveneJohn Lord

Michael McDonaldMelloul BlameyElaine MortonJason Tomesch

All of our amazing Jazz NightAuction Donors,

our Jazz Night attendees& everyone who attended our

Inclusion Film Series!

A special and tremendous thanksto Extend-a-Family and KidsAbilityfor their generous in-kind support

of Bridges to Belonging. Wecouldn't do it without you!

Dolphin DigitalThe Jazz Room

Menno S. Martin Contractor Ltd.McLennan Speech and Language

Simpson Financial

Kitchener and WaterlooCommunity Foundation

George Cluthe Fund (KWCommunity Foundation)

100 Women Who Care WaterlooRegion

(all 231 of you!)