Final report summary: LakeCity Employment Services Association

Recipient: LakeCity Employment Services Association
Project: Veterans Therapeutic Woodworking Program
Province: Nova Scotia
Period: 2 September 2021 - 8 March 2024
Funding: $25,000

Overview:

The LakeCity Employment Services Association designed the project to provide therapeutic woodworking programming to 36 Veterans living with PTSD or other mental health challenges.

Project goals:

  1. To support the mental health and well-being of the participants and create opportunity for peer mentorship.
  2. To facilitate woodworking skill development and community building.
  3. To create a safe space for community engagement between Veterans with PTSD and the LakeCity community.

Project activities:

  1. Allow each Veteran participant the opportunity to build a woodworking project from start to finish.
  2. Nurture discussions with participants who may want to engage as peer supports for future programs.

Project results:

This program offered 32 Veterans a safe space to learn new skills through the successful completion of six six-week courses. Nineteen of the participants completed one or two projects each. Project survey results showed an increase in confidence and sense of community among participants.