What We Do
Equipping, Welcoming & Safe Environment:
The Dunnville Youth Impact is an outreach ministry hub for Dunnville and the surrounding communities, sharing Christ’s love in word and action. DYI has a well-trained and supported team of staff, volunteers, church and community partners who provide a welcoming and safe environment for the students in our communities. We also provide multiple programming including recreation, educational training, life skills, coaching and mentoring.
Our Programs & Initiatives
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Tuesday After School Programs
(Grades 5-8)
Students in grades 5 to 8 have the opportunity to join our structured program that takes place every Tuesday from October through May. We provide snacks and a hot meal that the students, staff, and volunteers will eat together to show how important community is. They also play games and do crafts and will then spend time in groups having a Bible lesson.
Grades 5 & 6 from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
Grades 7 & 8 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
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Thursday Night Youth
(Grades 9-12)
Thursday Night Youth is a structured program that runs from October through May for High School Students. A typical night would consist of hanging out with each other, staff, and leaders. They will also have snacks, but then take time to focus on the Bible and learn more about who Jesus is through series like Alpha. They then have small groups to have a chance to ask questions about what they learned during the lesson. They will finish the night off by playing games.
Thursday’s 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
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Independence Training Program
(Age16-24)
Geared towards students who have recently graduated High School and young adults, this program will focus on budgeting, communication, healthy relationships, meal prep, job finding/building a resume, personal hygiene/self-care, and more. Feel free to contact Erica to learn about this opportunity or register below.
Thursday’s 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
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Wednesday Volleyball
(Grades 8-12)
Youths in Grades 8 to 12 are welcome to come out to play volleyball in a fun, encouraging environment, at Dunnville Secondary School. This program is open to youths of all skill levels. Make sure to wear proper gym attire and bring a water bottle.
Wednesday’s 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
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1:1 Mentoring & Tutoring
(Grades 1-12)
Walking alongside youth to provide them with the help they need, weather that be in school with one of our tutors or in life with one of our mentors. We are here for you and we care! This if offered to those in grades 1-12. Make sure to register online or contact David learn more.
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Broken Spokes
(Grade 9-12)
Students learn practical skills by using their hands to work on bicycles. Partnering with Haldimand County, the Youth Impact Centre rescues bicycles from landfills and brings them to the high school to be refurbished or stripped for parts. Students in this program will be given their workstations and tools to accomplish this task.
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm @ Dunnville Secondary School -
Auto Mechanics
(Grade 9-12)
Partnering with Dunnville AutoPro, this program will be a beginner apprenticeship in Automotive maintenance. Students will work with a trained mechanic for hands-on experience in learning about automotive repair. Register soon as space is limited!
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Culinary & Baking Program
(Grade 7-12)
A beginner’s course for students to develop basic knife skills, proper kitchen safety and sanitation, and staple culinary dishes. Students will get a taste for creating professional dishes and experience toward future careers in the culinary industry. Feel free to contact Rachel for more information.
Youth Clothing Closet
There is no such thing as “too many” clothes! Here at the DYIC, we take gently used clothes donated by the community and make them available to our youth. It’s like a thrift shop, but free ;)
We have everything from shirts to shoes, seasonal items to basic clothing essentials. Youth are able to come through the Closet at least twice a month and enjoy some new clothes!
Free Family Brunch Program
Every Tuesday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, families are welcome to enjoy a FREE hot buffet breakfast with staff and volunteers starting at the beginning of July to the end of August. Reminders about this program are always posted on our socials, so come join us and enjoy some delicious brunch!!
Run/Walk/Scoot Club
We started the Run/Walk/Scoot Club to help students become and stay active. Prior to the pandemic, we would use the club to prepare students to participate in the Mudcat Marathon 1 km or 5 km event; these events have been cancelled for the last 2 years. The cancellation has enabled the Dunnville Youth Impact Centre to create our own event that will allow students to Run, Walk, or use their Scooters (whatever they prefer) to be active, compete together, and raise money for the programs & camps they attend at the Centre.
For 6 weeks leading up to the run/walk/scoot-a-thon on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:25 pm, students are encouraged to join our staff and volunteers to come together and train for this event.
Christmas Blessing Program
Every year, starting in October we ask our students that are regularly attending our programs to write out their Christmas wish list. Once we have received all of the wish lists, we ask partnering churches to hang the wish- lists on a tree or in an area where individuals have a chance to pick one or multiple wish lists from the tree. The individual has until the beginning of December to get the presents back to the Centre in time for them to be wrapped and delivered before Christmas. All presents are donated by the individuals that take the wish lists.
Anyone can partner with us. You do not have to be attending a church to donate a wish list this Christmas.
Follow our Facebook or Instagram page to stay updated on deadlines and an opportunity to help volunteer to wrap all of the presents that come in.