Take Action
Making a difference is about acting on your great ideas. If you can dream it, you can do it.
United Way can support your efforts in a variety of ways - get innovative and turn your vision for the community into reality!
Youth Leadership Training
The purpose of Youth Leadership Training is to enable students from grades 4-12 to start projects in their own communities and to acquire skills to become engaged community leaders. This is accomplished through interactive workshops, presented by our Youth Leadership Coordinator, which demonstrate that students have the ability to help others in every aspect of their lives. We help students connect the idea of volunteering with something that they already enjoy. After participating in the workshop, many students realize that being a community leader is within their grasp.
To learn about the workshops we offer, check out our
Youth Training Catalogue.
If you are a teacher or youth group interested in hosting a youth leadership workshop see our
interest form 
or contact our Youth Leadership Coordinator directly.
Youth Grants
United Youth Grants foster leadership skills and demonstrate the value of volunteerism. The program empowers youth to improve their communities and the lives of those around them. Youth gain skills in project management and leadership, as well as use their talents to support issues of concern to them. Projects eligible for grants are to make a positive contribution to the school community, City and County, and/or peers .
To learn more, see out Youth Grants Brochure
To apply for a grant see our application and funding criteria
For Kids Programs
Backpacks for Kids is a special project of the United Way of Peterborough & District which began in 2003 after finding that there was a great need for back to school support for students and parents in the City and County of Peterborough. To date, we have provided approximately 5,545 backpacks to children in need within our community. Each new backpack contains common items required for success in school such as paper, pens, pencils, calculators, binders, glue, markers and math kits. This program is possible only through generous financial support from the community.
To learn more about this program, see our brochure
Coats and for Kids and Grown-ups Too strives to ensure that every child in Peterborough will be warm during the winter. The program also provides winter wear for families and adults. Thanks to the generosity of local cleaners gently used children's coats, jackets, snow pants and snowsuits are cleaned for free and then distributed to families in November. Coats are collected each spring and fall and then cleaned by participating local businesses including Kent Cleaners, Rocky's Cleaners, Ferguson Cleaners, Windsor's Cleaners and Grainger Cleaners. Coats are now distributed in locations in both the City and County of Peterborough. Contact the United Way office to find out if there is a distribution location in your community.
Mitts for Kids Has provided mittens and hats to local children since 1999. A team of volunteer knitters spend the year lovingly knitting mittens and hats that are then distributed at Coats for Kids distribution locations in the City and County.
To learn more about the program or how you can donate a coat contact our Youth Leadership Coordinator at (705) 742-8839.
