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A new funding program will help Canadian colleges' collaborate with their communities to promote socially innovative projects.

The Community and College Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) will provide colleges and polytechnics across Canada with more funding in order to address a multitude of issues affecting post-secondary students in their surrounding communities.

The additional $6 million will address a range of social issues including poverty, community safety and local economic development, according to a press release. The funding will go towards 27 unique projects across the country.

Colleges that were approved applied for around $200,000 in funding for projects that partner with community organizations and businesses and are socially innovative.

“We are very pleased to support this pilot program and through it, the development of multi-sectoral research at our colleges and polytechnics. These investments will advance meaningful, creative solutions to pressing social challenges that will bring real change to communities across Canada,” said Ted Hewitt, president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) in a press release.

Fanshawe College will not be receiving any of the funding.

Christopher Walters, director of communications at SSHRC, said the funding program will positively benefit students, schools and their greater communities.

“By collaborating with community organizations, colleges will leverage the knowledge and experience of their faculty members to develop evidence-based strategies and solutions to issues faced by community organizations,” he said via email.

According to a study by the SSHRC, colleges have a great capacity for social innovation.

“Canada’s colleges and polytechnics are well-equipped to contribute to social innovation initiatives by tapping into the knowledge, experience, facilities and community connections available in their departments and programs,” said Walters. “Through this unique funding opportunity, the possibilities for collaboration, resulting in effective, fairer and more durable solutions to complex social issues, are within reach,” Walters said.

One of the examples of a project that was funded was between Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. The collaborators received $240,000 over a three year period to fund a project to develop social games to improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy.

Another funded project was one between George Brown College along with four other collaborators to fund a project to integrate victims of torture and political oppression back into society through education.