Important Announcement

Founded in 1994 by and for youth, YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society has been a community, a lifeline, and a space of care and resistance built through the labour, love, and commitment of staff, volunteers, and youth. Emerging as an organization to support youth most impacted by HIV and Hep C, over the past 31 years YouthCO has co-created a community striving to reduce the impact of HIV and Hep C stigma on youth in BC through inclusive, anti-oppressive, sex-positive and youth-driven programming. This programming has both met the needs of youth while supporting capacity bridging, enabling youth to become leaders in the HIV and Hep C movement.

Along with many other youth-based organizations, particularly in the community-based non-profit sector, YouthCO has been navigating a challenging funding environment that has led to financial instability. While multiple alternative pathways have been actively explored, the Board of Directors has made the painful decision to wind down YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society by the end of the current fiscal year, on March 31st 2026.

This decision has come after deep discussion and thoughtful consideration. We explored options such as program restructuring, reallocation of existing funds, and pursuing new, stabilization, or bridge funding. Given the timing and scale of recent funding changes, we were unable to secure sufficient resources to responsibly commit to another program year.

We know that this decision is challenging to come to terms with and deeply destabilizing. Our priority is a responsible and transparent wind down in accordance with YouthCO’s values. We are also exploring how the relationships and programming YouthCO has built can live on at other organizations with similar mandates to ours to continue meeting the needs of youth impacted by HIV and Hep C stigma in BC.

The Board is committed to centering transparency, safety, and care throughout this process. Concerns or questions are welcome and can be directed to the Board at [email protected] and we will respond as soon as we can.

Thank you for your support and collaboration to champion youth-driven solutions. The profound impact YouthCO has had on the lives of youth is a testament to the commitment and tenacity of community. We are committed to ensuring the powerful and important work, driven by YouthCO’s missions, lives on.

With great respect and gratitude,

The YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society Board of Directors