United Way - Cochrane & Area Partnership | Town of Cochrane
United, we make the biggest difference
Every dollar raised in Cochrane stays in Cochrane.
We need your help to strengthen social-serving organizations that are working tirelessly to meet the needs of our community.
Cochrane partners with Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) and United Way of Calgary and Area to provide grant funding for organizations that support the social well-being of individuals and families. Each year, the Town appoints an FCSS Advisory Board to review applications and make funding recommendations to Council. This ensures that funds are distributed to local non-profit organizations that provide initiatives and programs addressing the needs of the community.
Over the last six years, FCSS and the United Way has provided over $500,000 to local organizations working to address complex issues such as poverty, mental health, social isolation, domestic violence, intergenerational trauma and food security.
2026 funding recipients
Meet the groups that received funding in 2026 that are working to address the complex social issues in our community.
Big Hill Haven provides a safe place for women with or without children leaving domestic violence and empowers them to rebuild their lives by providing support services and advocacy.
Goal: Education and prevention as key contributors to success for families as they pursue healthy relationships and violence free lives.
Strategy: Provide two aftercare groups, each consisting of structured education, information, activities and therapeutic counselling to nurture resiliency, support healing, increase awareness and build the capacity of community members to encourage each other to reject violence and pursue peace.
CISC is a non-profit organization serving newcomer-immigrants in Cochrane and surrounding areas.
Goal: Support newcomer-immigrants and help alleviate major pressure points experienced by the immigrant community such as mental health, employment and unexpected crisis.
Strategy: Increase staff hours to enhance community connections, increase awareness and foster a culture of inclusion.
The Cochrane and Area Hospice Society aims to ensure that Cochrane and the surrounding Area is a community that has palliative, end of life, and bereavement care services and supports available.
Goal: To ensure the availability of exemplary palliative, end of life, and bereavement care options in the community of Cochrane and the surrounding area. Our areas of focus include education and awareness, fundraising, advocacy work, volunteer partnerships and support, and grief and bereavement support.
Strategy: Offer a palliative volunteer program that is a series of short, interactive courses that help people develop the knowledge and confidence to offer meaningful support to family, friends and community members.
The Cochrane and Area Men's Shed offers a safe space for friendship and socializing, providing opportunities for men to pursue meaningful projects.
Goal: Through collaborative and community-focused projects, we aim to enhance well-being and provide tangible benefits to individuals and the broader community. We build connection through impact, inclusivity and belonging.
Strategy: Connecting men through a bi-weekly coffee group where storytelling and sharing provides companionship and support. Initiating a speaker series on topics such as mental health, suicide prevention and opportunities to meet with social and peer support experts.
Contact
Website: cochranemensshed.ca
CSHO advocates, delivers and enhances housing possibilities for the Cochrane and area community. CSHO operates a social enterprise, Home Reno Heaven, where proceeds from the sale of donated building supplies, tools, and appliances directly support affordable housing in Cochrane.
Goal: To deliver affordable housing for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes in the Town of Cochrane, and ensure the hard to house population is successful in obtaining and maintaining housing by increasing access to resources and support.
Strategy: CSHO aims to increase support for the ‘hard to house’ tenant population by increasing and improving access to community resources, providing a wraparound approach to service and empowering tenants and applicants to improve their ability to deal with life’s challenges and navigating relationships.
Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area (HHSCA) is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization dedicated to building a stronger, more connected, and caring community. To enable faith groups, community groups, and local members to serve and connect with their neighbours through volunteerism, making Cochrane and the surrounding area a vibrant, caring, and connected community
Goal: Support the increasing needs in the community regarding food insecurity.
Strategy: Expanding opportunities for volunteer involvement, developing a stronger volunteer recognition program, strengthening community engagement and raising awareness around food security, food waste reduction, social isolation and community volunteerism.
Contact
Phone:
Operations / Donation Support: 587-580-7971
Volunteer Support: 587-580-9031
Client Support: 587-580-9448
Food Rescue Support: 587-580-8067
Website: helpinghandscochrane.ca
Good Vibes Memory Choirs provides free, community choirs for people with dementia, their caregivers, volunteers, and students looking to improve their cognitive health.
Goal: Improve cognitive health through choir.
Strategy: Continue to provide free, community choirs, to help improve cognition, delay the progression of dementia, and reduce isolation, depression, anxiety and stress.
Seniors for Kids Society is a not-for-profit organization that promotes intergenerational relationships in Cochrane. We provide resources for building intergenerational relationships between children/youth and seniors, thus improving the quality of life for both groups.
Goal: Seniors and children/youth in Cochrane build strong intergenerational relationships that are respectful, trusting and supportive.
Strategy: Students and seniors are matched in school-based programs (seniors go to the school to meet with students) and community-based programs (students go to Seniors on the Bow, Big Hill Lodge and Bethany Care Cochrane to meet with seniors).
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed statutory holidays Extended hours: September to June on the first Tuesday of the month, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
