Program Manager for Fuel-Up: Fueling Inclusion Through Meaningful Work

Fuel-Up: Fueling Inclusion Through Meaningful Work

In rural northern Alberta, people with disabilities have very limited opportunities to participate in their communities and gain meaningful work experience. Limited public transportation, a lack of suitable employment, and the need for support workers can make traditional workplaces inaccessible.

Fuel-Up Community Access Centre in Berwyn was created to help fill this gap. We are developing a safe, inclusive rural workshop and community hub where people with disabilities can participate in meaningful work experiences at a level suited to their abilities, while building skills, confidence, connections and a sense of belonging.

Our programs include gas pump and customer service, bicycle repair, woodworking, car detailing and community work. These programs benefit both participants and the community by providing meaningful work experiences while delivering useful products and services locally.

Fuel-Up has already been built on strong community support, with volunteers, donated supplies and donated rent helping us establish several programs. Our greatest need is now a Program Manager who can coordinate participants and volunteers, develop programs, create appropriate work opportunities and help us accommodate more participants.

The impact of this position would extend beyond one individual. It would allow Fuel-Up to strengthen and expand multiple programs, increase participation and create a sustainable model of inclusion and meaningful work in a rural community where these opportunities are currently very limited.

Our purpose is simple: to fuel inclusion through meaningful work.

Five groups benefiting from Fuel-Up

1. People with PDD funding through Family Managed Supports (FMS)
   Participants whose families manage their PDD funding can access meaningful work experiences, skill development and opportunities to be part of their community in a safe, supportive environment.

2. People with PDD funding supported through Blue Heron Support Services
   Fuel-Up provides a local, practical setting where people supported by our local agency can develop skills, contribute to the community and participate in meaningful activities closer to home.

3. People with disabilities who have no funding or formal supports
   This is a particularly important and often overlooked group. Without funding, transportation, or someone advocating for them, many individuals fall through the cracks and have very few opportunities for social connection, skill development or meaningful work. This group is harder to reach but not less important. Our board collectively knows several people who fall under this group and could benefit from our program. 

4. Seniors who want purpose, connection and opportunities to contribute
   Seniors in our community can share their knowledge and practical skills as volunteers and mentors. This creates meaningful connections between generations while helping participants learn from people with valuable experience.

5. The community of Berwyn and surrounding rural communities
   Fuel-Up is also helping maintain services and opportunities that might otherwise disappear from a small rural community. The gas pump is one important example, while community services such as snow removal and other practical programs can provide valuable support to residents. As Fuel-Up develops, these programs strengthen community connection and local resilience.

The unique impact is that these groups benefit from one another. Participants gain skills and purpose, seniors have opportunities to mentor and contribute, families and support agencies gain another local option, and the broader community retains services and develops new ones that may not otherwise exist in a small rural community.