10 Years, Countless Lives Changed
For a full decade, Foundry has quietly been building something powerful: safe, free, and easy-to-access spaces for young people in British Columbia. Since its start in 2015, this network has grown from a bold idea into a lifeline for youth aged 12–24 and their families.
This week, Foundry is celebrating a major milestone 10 years of transforming how young people receive health and support services across the province.
What Foundry Offers: All Services Under One Roof
Foundry isn’t just another clinic. It bundles together mental-health care, substance-use support, physical and sexual health care, peer-support, and help with education or work options all in one welcoming spot. That way, youth don’t need dozens of referrals or to visit multiple offices.
Whether a teen walks in, logs on, or uses the free app support is confidential, free, and meant to meet them where they are.
Big Numbers, Bigger Impact
In the 2024–25 year alone, over 17,000 young people visited Foundry amounting to more than 83,000 visits across the province. Nearly half those visits came from first-time users.
That’s a clear sign: many young people found their way to support they might not have had otherwise proving there was a real need for a place like Foundry.
Why It Matters: Youth, Families & Community
Foundry didn’t set out only to treat mental health. Its mission goes deeper: to build spaces where youth feel heard, understood, and supported before a crisis even hits.
As one young person put it: “I felt seen. I wasn’t alone.” That sense of belonging combined with low-barrier, no-referral services can make a world of difference.
Moreover, with expansion ongoing, more communities are seeing new Foundry centres open giving more youth a genuine chance at support, recovery, and hope.
What’s Next is Growing the Network, Broadening the Reach
Foundry now runs 19 centres across BC, and has many more in development, plus a province-wide virtual service through the Foundry BC app.
The vision is to double even triple the reach within the next few years. As resources grow, so does the chance for more young people to find care and connection when they most need it.
The Bottom Line: A Decade of Heartfelt Impact
Foundry’s 10-year milestone isn’t just a number. It’s evidence that a simple idea combine youth-friendly care in one place, make it free, and remove barriers can transform lives.
For countless young people and families across BC, Foundry has meant access to care, prevention over crisis, and hope when things got tough.
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