CUPS is committed to providing learning opportunities for those who are passionate about the social sector and supporting vulnerable members of our community. Through a dynamic practicum program, CUPS is training and working with the future leaders of the sector. 

And this year, CUPS will have had the largest recorded group of practicum students ever since the program began.  Since last September, a total of 37 practicum students will have already filled a wide array of roles as of the end of May, many part of the RBC Future Launch program. 

From speaking with clients, to performing assessments, CUPS staff mentor bright young minds and show them the most important piece of the puzzle when doing outreach work: compassion. 

Changing the world of work

Thanks to programs like RBC Future Launch, CUPS brings in students and provides them with the incredible opportunity to learn and grow within their chosen careers. 

For students at CUPS, we are able to reveal a side of their community they may otherwise be unaware of unless they choose to work in the social sector or healthcare. This practicum is an opportunity to educate them about something they might otherwise never learn about.

With over 500 community partners, 3 million youth reached, and $175 million invested in programs and resources across the country, CUPS is proud to be one of their funded organizations. 

RBC Future Launch is committed to helping young Canadians prepare for a drastically changing workforce, and empower them for the jobs of today and tomorrow by helping them grow their network, get experience and support them on as many levels as possible.

“I also enjoyed the experience because I’ve been working in roughly the same sector as CUPS for five years and being able to see the differences between my current employer and CUPS was eye opening.” - CUPS Practicum Student

Coming full circle

Often, it doesn’t stop when a practicum placement ends. It comes full circle with many past students being hired at CUPS. They already know the process, programs and how the organization works. 

Grant Kennedy, CUPS’ current senior manager of Child and Family Development, was a CUPS practicum student. He was able to learn both tangible, operational skills from his mentor but also how to navigate the sector, and how to support and have a thoughtful conversation with someone who might be struggling. 

CUPS is working to expand the areas that students are engaged with. In addition to health and housing, CUPS is working to bring on students to support education, IT and other support services. 

We are so grateful to all of the students who choose our organization to learn and grow with and cannot thank them enough. We look forward to walking together into a brighter future.