While the worst of the pandemic lock downs and forced isolation may have subsided, employees of Sara Riel are acutely aware of the difficulties still facing many in our communities. David Stewart, Manager of Education and Training for Sara Riel, is seeing the challenges firsthand and has been instrumental in the creation of SR Training (short for Sara Riel Training) an education arm that aims to create dialogue and awareness in Winnipeg and beyond.
“We know things are still hard and a lot of people are still looking for supports,” he shares. “The goal of SR Training is to provide addiction, mental health, and peer support information. It’s not just for those working in our sector, but also about giving the community at large the skills to support people in schools, group homes or even those who have a family member who’s struggling. It’s about sharing to a wider audience our message of compassion, respect, and recovery. All of us can choose how we treat people and how we help them feel welcome and well.”
SR Training was launched in July, 2023 and is being ramped up slowly. “We’ve begun with speaking engagements, and our ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) program,” continues Stewart. “We’ve also begun working with several private companies to support their wellness programs. We have plans for lunch and learns, for programs about recovery from addiction and about conflict resolution for leaders in sport. This is about having more resources available to anyone who might need them.”
In preparation for the launch, Stewart and the SR Training team took stock of the existing programming available in Manitoba. “Take peer support training, for example. It’s an important part of the work that Sara Riel and other organisations do, but many of the training programs can cost up to $1,500 per person,” highlights Stewart. “We need something that’s affordable for those seeking to become a peer supporter. We’re able to offer a similar program for $600. Most importantly, we’re able to offer training that truly centres the human aspect of peer support and the compassionate lens that guides us.”
Initially imagined as a social enterprise, the program eventually found its home under the umbrella of the Sara Riel Foundation after consultations with lawyers and social enterprise experts. “We were told that it was wise to start under the Foundation and as it grows, perhaps it can be spun out after it reaches a certain size,” continues Stewart. “While the training we offer has a cost, folks can always go to Sara Riel to get supports for free.”
In time, Stewart is hopeful that SR Training will contribute to the financial well-being of Sara Riel. “Through granting and fundraising, we’re increasing our budget so we can offer more supports in the community,” he concludes. “Grants can be hard to come by and don’t always meet the needs of our clients. The funds generated by SR Training could eventually be used to respond to more of what our communities need, and that’s an exciting prospect.”