Community Support Month: How Willowbridge Brings Positive Change to Life
At Willowbridge, we’re proud to support our community. Every day, our team walks alongside children, adults and families by providing, developmental services, respite care and coordination that help people thrive.
This Community Support Month, we’re celebrating the impact of these services and the generosity that makes them possible.
The impact in numbers
In 2024–2025, Willowbridge supported 2,821 community members across Brantford, Brant County, Hamilton and beyond. Together, our teams delivered:
• 1,795 counselling sessions for individuals, couples and families
• 430 service coordination supports through EnCompass, helping families access housing, medical, government and community services
• 93 respite opportunities through Routes Respite, creating space for independence, learning and connection
• 39 autism supports through the Ontario Autism Program’s Urgent Response Service, with expanded services launching soon
Behind every number is a story of someone gaining strength, skills and support when they needed it most.
Programs that make a difference
Donor generosity and grant funding fuel programs that change lives. Over the past year, we:
• Opened Java Junction, an in-house café where Routes participants practice baking, money handling and customer service
• Launched the Art of Identity program, helping individuals explore identity through creativity
• Expanded low-cost counselling services with support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, making care more accessible to families with low incomes
• Introduced the Extensive Needs Service, a partnership providing trauma-informed wraparound care for children and youth with complex needs
These programs show how Willowbridge adapts to meet evolving community needs—always with compassion, inclusion and dignity at the heart of our work.
Looking ahead
Willowbridge’s future is about growth, accessibility and innovation.
We’re preparing to launch in 2026, closing long-standing gaps in care for children and youth with autism. At the same time, we’re laying the groundwork for the Riverside Hub—a one-stop space where individuals and families can access multiple services under one roof.
We’re also leading the Safe Relationships and Your Rights Project, a province-wide initiative to prevent gender-based violence and create safer futures for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And as we grow, we’re exploring artificial intelligence to enhance services, reduce administrative burdens and better meet community needs.
With your support, these initiatives will expand what’s possible for thousands of children, youth, adults and families who rely on Willowbridge every day. To stay up to date on what’s happening at Willowbridge, be sure to sign up for our Beneath the Willow and Beneath the Willow: Autism Services newsletters.
Why your support matters
As one participant shared: “I don’t know where we would be without the services provided through Willowbridge. They have and still provide invaluable help and resources!”
Your support ensures Willowbridge can continue to be that vital community support for children, youth, adults and families.
This Community Support Month, there are many ways you can help Willowbridge continue bringing positive change to life. You can make a gift to support children, adults and families in our community, refer our services to someone who may benefit, or follow and engage with us on social media to help spread the word.
To see even more of the impact your support makes, explore our 2024-2025 Annual Report for highlights, stories and a closer look at how Willowbridge is setting the stage for growth.