Access Communications believes that it's not enough to be in a community. We also want to be part of it. That's why our registered charity, the Access Communications Children’s Fund is happy to support organizations that contribute to a better quality of life for young people in the communities we serve.

The Access Communications Children’s Fund donated over $140,000 in 2011. The following is a list of organizations and/or programs that have recently received funding:

HELP’S ‘Not Just Grilled Cheese’ Children’s Cooking Camps provide children with the opportunity learn skills that can be easily transferred to their everyday life. The camps focus on teaching children low cost, easy to prepare, healthy recipes – empowering them to make good decisions about food selection and preparation.

An increasing number of children in the community led to the creation of the Prelate Playground Committee in March 2010. Since then, the community has added a new play structure, replaced swing sets and repaired existing merry-go-round and teeter totters. The Children’s Fund grant will help to purchase important extras, like outdoor tables.

Far From the Heart is a play that will be offered at schools and other venues serving youth in rural, small urban and Aboriginal communities primarily in Northern Saskatchewan. The play engages and educates youth from grades 7- 12 on the hard subjects of date rape, sexual assault, drinking and healthy relationships. Each play is followed by a dialogue that continues to bring the message home.

Lamb’s Boxing Club caters to disadvantaged youth in Regina’s North Central and other neighbourhoods. Participants from the ages of 10 to 20 and is an even mix of boys to girls. The club has a dual focus. First, and most importantly, it works to keep youth away from drugs and alcohol and on building self-esteem. Second, it promotes physical fitness, dedication and discipline among participants.

The "Come and Eat Program" (Pemisu Program) provides children and families with a safe and fun environment in which to have a healthy lunch on a daily basis.

The goal of the Reading Circle Program is to provide a happy, fun, safe environment for children ages three and four to learn and develop a love of books and reading. During the program, children will listen to stories, sing songs and make crafts.

This project will provide a much-needed playground expansion for the school and for the entire community of Qu’Appelle. The project includes new monkey bars, a climbing igloo and new soccer nets. Like many smaller communities, school playgrounds become a primary gathering place for children, whether or not the school year is underway. As such, the project’s benefits extend well beyond the school day.

The St. Catherine Revitalization Project is a four-phase plan with an eye on sustainable education and improving the quality of the grounds at the school. Key beneficiaries will be a significant proportion of students in the school who face barriers to educational and social participation. Phase 3 of the project includes the purchase and installation of a play structure that fosters physical activity among children.

The objective of the project is to provide children staying at Transition House with a safe environment to just be children. The grant will cover the cost of equipment for a Child friendly and safe outdoor area and a Children’s activity room. The equipment will also allow the counselors to make better observations about children's development and family dynamics. This grant will also allow Transition House to have a child-friendly space for children’s programming involving cultural and educational groups.

Battlefords Boy & Girls Club is a non-profit agency created to provide for the recreational, cultural and social needs of all children 6-17 years of age in the Battlefords area. The Evening Program provides a place for at-risk youth to drop in and runs weekday evenings. The program includes activities such as gym, swimming, cooking, games, arts & crafts, self-esteem.

The Ehrlo Sport Venture program (Sport Venture) is a community outreach program that aims to provide inner-city youth and families with control of, and access to, recreation programs by reducing the barriers to participation in sport and physical activity. Sport Venture currently offers four free drop-in sports leagues, hockey, basketball, soccer and football, and lends sport equipment through the Ehrlo Sport Venture Library.

SCEP provides young children and their families with a supportive therapeutic program for children with behavior and/or communication problems. The Summer Friends program provides program continuity over the summer months while the regular program is closed. Summer Friends enables the children to enjoy summer recreation and provides the parents/caregivers with some much-needed respite.

Spirit Builders provides skill-based after-school programming for children and youth aged 8-18 who attend Balcarres Community School. Over the course of the school year, the group runs three 10-week phases of programming. During each phase, a minimum of six programs are offered. Each program occurs one day per week for 10 consecutive weeks.

The Goal of the Camp Monahan Sponsorship program is to provide children from economically disadvantaged homes the opportunity to attend camp. The experience fosters a sense of independence, self-esteem and an appreciation of the world around them and of others.

"One small lot H.O.P.E." is an area outside of Carlyle Elementary school that once was an ugly unused space. Now, through the vision of students and staff, it is a natural outside space where learning can take place (an outside classroom). The application of belonging, showing kindness, being responsible and respectful will be lived out and applies to the project by all working together and contributing. Students take ownership of organizing, planning and implementing the project.

The co-op will act as a drop-in centre for young people ages 14 to 18. Youth will have the opportunity to express themselves through music. The program will allow Family Services to engage youth who may otherwise be at risk, and to provide ongoing support.

The Leader & District Make a Splash Committee was formed in June, 2009. Our goal was to build a new swimming pool for Leader and area. Direct beneficiaries are children whose quality of life will be enhanced through affordable access to physical activity and educational opportunities.

New fully-accessible playground equipment to replace existing equipment at Preeceville school. The changeover will ensure that all children will “be a part of the action,” and foster an atmosphere of inclusion and acceptance.

The project promotes literacy by recognizing the achievements of students who have successfully various benchmark levels of the Guided Reading Program. Students are presented with framed certificates.

This program provides children in grades two to eight (including recent immigrants) with a fun, encouraging way to develop learning skills and English literacy while interacting with peers from different cultures.