The Community Gaming Grants Branch is hosting half day information sessions in regions throughout the province.

The first of these is in Richmond from 9-Noon on Friday January 27. At the Richmond City Centre Community Centre, 5900 Minoru Blvd #105, Multipurpose Room 4.

Email cggoutreach@gov.bc.ca to register. There is no cost to attend.

Press Release – For Immediate Release

 Easier to Navigate Gaming Grants Guidelines

Abbotsford, BC December 9, 2016:

Under the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development, the Gaming Grant Guidelines have been amended to be more user-friendly and accessible. The main content has not been changed, they have been re-ordered and some things have been simplified.

“We welcome the Auditor General’s report and recommendations and we’re grateful to the Minister for his efforts to stabilize the Program while being concerned for the impact that the Gaming Grant has on local social health,” said Shawn Bellamy, Chair of the BC Association for Charitable Gaming. “We are looking for a Gaming Grant program that is responsive and committed to the important work that community groups do around the Province and updated Guidelines are a good step to a simpler application.”

“The Guidelines have been a complex document that evolved over many years. The revisions published today re-organizes them, includes more explanation and aligns them with the format of the application. As part of a provincial strategy, the Community Charitable Gaming Associations will be delivering information workshops and we are available to help people navigate the application,” said David Sheach, Executive Director BC Association of Charitable Gaming. “We are confident in the working relationship with the Gaming Grants Branch. Gaming Grants are an important source of revenue; a significant investment that reaches into every community.”

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Media Contact: David Sheach, Executive Director

Cell: 604.751.2217

executivedirector@bcacg.com

Mailing Address: BC Association for Charitable Gaming

401, 151-10090152^nd St.

Surrey, BC V3R 8X8

On December 8 the Community Gaming Grants Branch published a response to the Auditor General’s Report and announced updated Guidelines. The Guidelines are an online document, streamlined to follow the flow of the Application and there are a few changes, but none substantial. As an example, where volunteer hours used to be calculated at $10/hr for unskilled labour and $25/hr for skilled labour, now all volunteer hours are calculated at $20/hr. The Guidelines are available here.

The Ministry Press Release is available here.

December 7, 2016: Read the British Columbia Auditor General’s report of the  Audit of Community Gaming Grants, conducted during October 2014 – September 2015. The Report provides 10 recommendations about measuring impact and program transparency. The Auditor General concludes that government’s framework for administering the Community Gaming Grant program is suitable, but improvements are needed. Improved accountability and a complete set of performance measures are needed to enable stakeholders to better understand and measure success for the program. Improvements to policies and procedures are also needed to better ensure that grant awards are fair, consistent and well documented, and that grant funds are used as approved.