It is the struggle of many a non-profit, and has been for years for Kimberley’s youth centre — how to get into a position of sustainability.

It has been a tough go for the Lee’s Learning Centre/Sparks Drop In (formerly Lee Haskell Youth Centre) but manager Bev Middlebrook says she feels they have turned a corner.

“It’s been a really busy year, all our goals have been achieved,” she said. “The goal was to be self-sustaining, find funding so we have some security.”

In fact it has been such a successful year that youth centres in Invermere, Fernie and Nelson have contacted Middlebrook asking to meet so she can share Kimberley’s story with them.

Several grants have been found that will help the centre achieve sustainability and help the youth who frequent it.

Federal funding has been received for Youth At Risk employment services, which helps young people up to age 30 with employment skills.

“So the front half of the Centre is LEES Learning Centre — Life Employment Enterprise Skills,” Middlebrook said.

Middlebrook also successfully found provincial funding for Bladerunners, an employment program for Aboriginal Youth at risk.

The program will be administered through the centre and serve Invermere, Golden, Radium, and Kimberley. The funding also includes the West Kootenay and a satellite office will be opened in Nelson.

Another success is the used book store, recently opened in the front of the centre.

“It’s been a big success,” Middlebrook said. “It’s a training centre for youth to learn business skills, an opportunity for the community to come in and see the Centre in a different way and it fills a community need. There is no used book store in Kimberley. And it has to influence the youth with literacy. It’s right there.”

An ENP grant (Enterprising Non Profits) has also been received to assist in developing a business plan.

And finally, a grant has been received to green the centre.

“It will help cut down our heating bills,” which are huge,” Middlebrook said. “We will hire two people they will learn green construction skills while they work. BC Hydro is our partner in this.”

Middlebrook said all this good news could not have been accomplished without a supportive board and staff.

“We have an unbelievable board and team of workers. And great youth too. They are awesome.

“In one year we have worked very hard to turn the centre from almost having to close to where we’re sitting pretty good.

“The best part is that we actually have programs to help our youth transition to their future. It helps the community. It helps everyone.

“To take Lee Haskell’s name and use it as part of youth growth is pretty special. The back half of the centre is Sparks, the front half is Lee’s Learning Centre. That comes down to Lee’s Spark.”