Bridging the Gap: Pilot Project Phase II

The sponsoring organization should have experience in facilitating community–based initiatives. They should be familiar with working with other community groups/government departments and taking a team approach to implement programs.
If Bridging the Gap is implemented in the future, it is important the sponsor organization fully understands the Bridging the Gap concept and are open to sharing responsibilities in implementing Bridging the Gap model.

Human Resources & Employment clients to negotiate training stipends with counselors instead of receiving one set amount.
Funding should be administered through local offices. Meeting to be set up with Human Resources & Employment and Human Resources Development Canada to negotiate similar assistance.
It is recommended the sponsor organization and financial partners (if pan provincial) have an information session within the appropriate local partnering offices.
The participants won't have any income after they finish – the TWS might cover this off. HRDC is being very flexible. If there was some way there could be a cushion at the end, it would have been better.

Communication is important among campuses partnering in the Bridging the Gap Program. It is important to have consistency and the availability of all in–kind contributions should be the same at all college sites.
When looking at the amount paid to the College, there needs to be a base amount (tuition fee) per student; more inline with regular students at the College.
The students need a College place to do the work. Especially for access to the computers and the like. Having the classes at the campus dispels some of the fears of the College.
In future, we would like more money to reflect the actual costs.