Category: Updates

Tax Clinics at Shelldale Family Gateway

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Tax clinics are being held at Shelldale Family Gateway, in partnership with Onward Willow NG & the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition, on the following dates. Appointments are required and can be made by calling Shelldale directly at 519-824-8498.

Please see tax clinic dates below and requirements for accessing this no-cost program.

Qualifications to attend a free tax clinic:
Simple tax return within the following income levels:

Family size          Total family income

1 person              $35,000

2 persons            $45,000

3 persons            $47,500

4 persons            $50,000

5 persons            $52,500

more than 5 persons      $52,500 plus $2,500 for each additional person
The following dates are available for appointments. These fill up quickly!
Saturday March 9th – 10:00am-3:00pm – must be a resident in the Onward Willow neighbourhood.
Saturday March 23rd – 10:00am-3:00pm – must be a resident in the Onward Willow neighbourhood.
Saturday April 13th – 10:00am-3:00pm – this is a city-wide clinic that anyone within Guelph can access with an appointment.

Seeking Participants for the Decent Work Project (paid positions)

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Hello Friends! We are looking for committed people to participate in the Decent Work Project and to apply by March 15th. These are paid positions (up to 50 hrs) through an honorarium and offered through the Guelph Wellington Poverty Task Force. Transportation, food and childcare will also be provided. Please see details below. If  interested, please e-mail onwardwillownsw@gmail.com. This is a great opportunity for those who wish to receive valuable training in and become community advocates for fair & decent work.
Program Details:
The Decent Work Peer Leader Program is a free training for 8 people from Guelph and Wellington who are impacted by:
• Low wages
• Unfair work conditions
• Part-time work
• Temporary work
• Contract work.
Participants will attend training sessions that will cover a variety of topics including, but not limited to:
• Workers’ rights
• Advocacy
• Outreach
When training is done, participants will have the chance to advocate for decent work through:
• Outreach
• Community meetings
• Other training during the spring
Participants will receive an honorarium for their time (up to 50 hours).
The Decent Work Peer Leader Program is part of the Guelph-Wellington Decent Work Project led by the Poverty Task Force in partnership with the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition with funding from the Atkinson Foundation. This project aims to build the decent work movement in Guelph-Wellington by giving chances for people to:
• Build skills
• Gain new skills
• Grow relationships
• Advocate for fair wages
• Advocate for fair working conditions
Who can apply to participate in the program?
You can apply for this program if you are:
• Living in Guelph or Wellington
• Dealing with:
o Low wages
o Unfair working conditions
o Part-time work
o Temporary work
o Contract work
When does it start?
Participants will attend training in March and April. The first training will be offered twice. Participants are required to attend ONE of the below times. The training will take place at a location in downtown Guelph and meals will be given.

OWNG Temporary Closure

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Onward Willow Neighbourhood Group Centre will remain closed next week from Monday March 4th through Tuesday March 15th due to unforeseen circumstances. We anticipate opening back up as soon as possible. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Please reach out to admin@guelphneighbourhoods.org for more information. To make an appointment to visit the clothing cupboard, or any of the centre’s services, please reach out to onwardwillownsw@gmail.com. Unfortunately, we’re unable to accept any donations during this time without an appointment. If you require a food hamper, some additional options include Hope House, Chalmers United downtown, and The Salvation Army on York Road. We look forward to seeing you upon reopening!

Exciting News!

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A huge thank-you to ETFO (Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario) and to ETFO Local for selecting Onward Willow Neighbourhood Group as a funding recipient to support anti-poverty work in Guelph and for the special funding bonus from our local ETFO. What a great surprise! We’re so grateful for the support!

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