Fitness, swimming programs cut, but more locations coming, says Vecova CEO
A Calgary and area charity serving people with disabilities has announced a new delivery model to continue serving its clients, with its facility in northwest Calgary set to permanently close next month.
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A news release from Vecova on Wednesday announced a new 'hub-and-spoke' service model, which will centralize the charity's administrative headquarters in the Beltline at the Kahanoff Centre, at 105 12th Ave S.E., along with some of its programming and support services.
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The transition comes after the Calgary-based charity announced last fall that it would shutter its venue and headquarters on 33rd Street N.W.
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The Beltline hub will be supported by a network of satellite locations throughout Calgary and nearby communities, including Vecova's offices in Airdrie and Canmore. The charity will maintain its decades-long presence in the northwest via a satellite office at 2520 Capitol Hill Crescent N.W., just east of Crowchild Trail near the University of Calgary.
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Under the new model, Vecova will continue providing housing services, the Wayfinder program, employment supports, mental health services, training opportunities and specialized group programs to clients with disabilities, according to the release.
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'I think it's a positive change,' the charity's CEO, Kelly Holmes-Binns, said in an interview. 'We're not only able to continue to deliver services to individuals we're serving currently in the northwest area of the city, but we're able to position ourselves to expand services to those who have difficulty getting to our current location.
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'We've heard time and time again from individuals we serve that transportation can be a major barrier. By having a hub-and-spoke model, it reduces that barrier for individuals and also helps us connect with new communities and new individuals who might benefit from the programs we offer.'
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