Organizational Information:

Kootenay Employment Services (KES) is a registered charitable, non-profit, community organization serving the Creston Valley. KES provides federal and provincial funded employment services, entrepreneurial assistance, 24hr. e-mail, computer training and use, employee workshops, community business, volunteer and artisan directories, consulting services, financial literacy skills training and asset development assistance to persons of limited income.

Program Description

MoneyWi$e teaches effective money management skills to Creston Valley residents. During ten, three-hour workshops, individuals learn key financial principles such as: handling credit, banking, record keeping, finding ways to save, goal setting, overcoming debt, communicating about money, budgeting, making wise spending choices, investing and asset-building.

ADAPT assists persons with income challenges and limited assets to save towards the purchase of a home, a business, or further education. Participants make monthly contributions into a designated bank account and the contributions are matched at a rate of $3 for every $1 contributed. Setting aside $75 each month can turn into $10,800 over the duration of the program. In addition, ongoing support helps individuals make better financial decisions and then prepares them for asset purchase when ready. Participation in MoneyWi$e is one of the pre-requisites.

The goals of these programs include exposing a minimum of 120 Creston Valley citizens per year to financial literacy skills training and can be further defined as follows:

Each participant will complete ten sessions and related activities;
All participants will explore options for acquiring key financial assets;
At least 10% of participants will start to save toward the acquisition of assets through the ADAPT program or through other means;
Each participant will form a spending plan and a savings habit.

Target Participants

MoneyWi$e is open to Creston Valley residents who experience difficulty managing their finances and/or want to learn how to handle their finances more effectively. In particular, the following groups have been identified:

Persons in Poverty;
Working Poor;
Seniors;
Working Middle Class;
Women recently separated or divorced;
Students; graduates and non-graduates.

ADAPT is open to Creston Valley residents who are;

At least 19 years of age;
Have a social insurance number;
Have experienced difficulty managing their finances;
Have minimal savings and assets;
Have before tax household income at or below LICO +20%;
Are motivated to make a positive change in their lives;
Are active participants in the MoneyWi$e program - must complete all aspects of the program to receive matched contributions.

Program Contact Information

Keith Brookfield
Phone: (250) 428-5655
Email: kb@kes.bc.ca
Website: www.kes.bc.ca

This website was produced with CEDTAP, Vancity, Bell Canada, and the Royal Bank of Canada.