The New Westminster Overdose Community Action Team (NWOCAT) was established, with the intention of bringing together diverse community partners at one table to identify and bridge gaps in services and interventions designed to prevent overdose deaths, enhance quality of care and combat stigma. Three programs were originally created to operate under the NWOCAT umbrella, Peer Network, Project ALLIES, and Anti-Stigma Campaigns.
For a full list of NWOCAT resources, click here.
Our Digital Inclusion Hub opened at 40 Begbie Street, offering access to a space for folks to charge their phones, receive repair support, access the Internet, and learn how to use their devices and/or navigate the web. The Digital Inclusion Hub now operates both on an appointment and drop-in basis, welcoming folks from all over the Lower Mainland from Tuesday - Friday.
The Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families was founded by two social workers and two teachers (and their supporters) who, at the time, were working on a day attendance program for adolescents in Burnaby. The program was known as “Purpose”, a name that referred to its general working principles.
The founding staff members, Lynda Fletcher-Gordon, Phill Esau, Steve Mason, and Jon Manlove wanted to establish a new Society that would offer innovative educational and life-skills programs to youth.
To read more about Purpose’s beginnings, click here.
The onset of COVID-19 rapidly diminished access to the Internet, computers, and shared learning spaces at the same time that essential health and social services became available exclusively online. After a need was identified within the Peer Network — and a working relationship was established between Purpose Society, Douglas College, and other partnering agencies — a proposal was developed for the purpose of creating a foundation and structure for a new NWOCAT initiative — the Digital Inclusion Project.
FAQs
Who are these services for?
Our Digital Inclusion Hub is open to everyone! The program is intended to be responsive to emerging community needs, and we hope to support individuals who are excluded from the digital economy and are negatively impacted by the Digital Divide. Such participants include but are not limited to those who are low-income, seniors, unemployed, homeless or marginally housed, and English language learners.
How much do these services cost?
The Lower Mainland Purpose Society is a registered non-profit and relies on donations, so all of our digital support services are free of charge! If you would like to support the project, we greatly appreciate device donations or donations of any kind. You can find more information on how to donate here.
What is the digital divide?
The Digital Divide is the gap that exists between individuals who have access to modern information and communication technology and those who do not. There are many different causes of digital inequality, such as lack of education, digital literacy, income levels, geographical restrictions, and demographic factors.
Can I donate non-working devices?
It depends on the device. If we are able to repurpose the device’s parts, we’ll gladly accept it. If not, we suggested sending devices that have reached the end of their life to the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) to be responsibly recycled. Contact us to see what we can do about your device.
What about all the personal information that is still on my device?
If you are unable to reset your device at home, we will happily sit with you and guide you through the steps of the process. We can assure you that all your personal information will be removed before we give your device to someone in need. For more information on logging out of Apple and Google devices, click here.
How can I get involved?
If you are an organization looking to collaborate on an initiative with the Digital Inclusion Project, please contact us. If you are an individual interested in volunteering with the Digital Inclusion Project or other programs at Purpose Society, please check out this page here.
