Work and volunteer at BWSS

Apply to come work with us

We are a feminist ending violence organization with an entrepreneurial spirit known for our commitment to creating and implementing programs and services that empower women from all walks of life. We offer the opportunity to work within an accomplished team making a difference every day on the frontline and beyond. If you are looking to work in an organization engaged in making a real difference in the lives of children and women in our community, please apply to work with us!

The following positions are currently open:

  • Research and Policy Analyst
  • Indigenous Women’s Legal Advocate
  • Housing Advocate
  • Latin American Women’s Counsellor
  • Volunteer Coordinator for My Sister’s Closet

Sign up for our Prevention and Intervention Volunteer Training

Our Prevention and Intervention Volunteer Training Program is offered to self-identified women who want to obtain the necessary skills to contribute to end gender-based violence, and will be offered again starting on September 18 to December 4, 2020.

We’re proud to say that our training is well-respected and well-known in the anti-violence community. Program training participants gain skills in crisis intervention, peer counselling, safety assessment, safety planning, advocacy, referrals, group facilitation, and public education.

With our crisis line and intake now extended to 24 hours a day and seven days per week, we are grateful for the commitment of our volunteers who help us respond to victims and survivors on the other side of the crisis line.

Consider these when helping your loved one suffering from domestic violence

For those that are experiencing domestic violence, reaching out to a loved one is extra challenging under COVID-19.

Now that we are in a different phase of the pandemic, it has been recorded that more than a million Canadian women lost their jobs in the first two months of the pandemic, and are facing additional stressors related to finances, and health. Some are torn about the next steps for their children’s futures.

Our crisis line continues to take calls from people who are concerned about their loved ones experiencing domestic violence. Although there are so many factors that are even more frustrating at this time, your friend or family member may still be unable to contact you because of their abusive partner. Your support, involvement and presence continue to be vital.

Please consider the above thoughts when talking to your loved one who is suffering from abuse.

You can also call our crisis line and we can help you determine how you can support your loved one.
📞 Call 604-687-1867 or 1-855-687-1868
📱
✉️ Email intake@bwss.org

Wear your support for BWSS

We’re selling shirts with 100% of proceeds going towards our mandate to end gender-based violence.

If you’re interested in other fashionable wear, check out our social enterprise My Sister’s Closet – social enterprise of Battered Women’s Support Services. We have an online shop and our store at The Drive (1830 Commercial Drive – Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm) is now open!

Thank you very much for your support.

We’re here to serve you online and in person

Here for you in person too

Our direct service team has been working very hard since social isolation was mandated in March.  Our office has remained open for drop-ins and staff have been onsite. As we enter the next phase of the pandemic here in BC, we are offering more services at our confidential location in Vancouver.

Crisis Line and Intake Coordinator Elza and volunteer Breanne, along with the rest of the staff are practicing physical distancing in the office as we continue to offer in-person services as well as virtual sessions. Although our office hours are still reduced, we acknowledge the importance of having face-to-face sessions for many of the women we serve, and have continuously found ways to stay connected.

Volunteers back in action

Congratulations to BWSS Prevention and Intervention trainees who graduated from a unique spring 2020 training series.  BWSS has offered this training for 40 years and this year, under COVID-19, the entire session happened virtually in addition to our support group with the entire session happened virtually in addition to our Healing from Trauma support group with Ileah and Daniela; Wildflower Women of Turtle Island Drum Group and art workshops by Summer-Rain and Michelle; and the Advancing Women’s Awareness Regarding Employment Program (AWARE) workshops by Stephanie and Claudia. Big thanks to our wonderful team members including Manager of Direct Services and Programs, Rosa Elena Arteaga, and Crisis and Intake Coordinator Elza Horta who did a fabulous job moving the training to the virtual world. 

Our trainees have now become committed volunteers, taking calls through our 24-hour-and-7-day-a-week crisis line. Great work, everyone!

Our training is world-renowned, and if you would like to join the September 2020 session to take action on gender based violence through our crisis and intake line, we would be thrilled to have you join us.

We offer Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression and Ending Gender Violence workshop

With the continued movements such as Black Lives Matter and Land Back, which demand to eradicate racial injustices and inequities globally, BWSS is proud to be a part of these movements by providing anti-racism training for thirty years. We have now also designed a workshop especially for anti-violence organizations. Angela Marie MacDougall, our Executive Director, is conducting an Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression and Ending Gender Violence workshop for the great people at Sara for Women, a feminist non-profit society providing safe refuge and community-based resources for women in Mission and Abbotsford.

The Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression and Ending Gender Violence workshop intends to deepen the application of an anti-racism and anti-oppression framework in the frontline work of women’s and anti-violence organizations.

Working Towards an Intersectional Feminists Recovery

According to a report by RBC, Canadian women’s participation in the labour force is down to its lowest level in three decades, while also having to shoulder more child care responsibilities than men. The federal and provincial governments are now talking about what “recovery” could mean and unfortunately we are seeing minimal recognition and action on the impact for women.  As a founding member of Feminists Deliver, we are taking action on “just recovery” through a report, This Economic Labour Hurts the Arch of Our Backs: A Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for COVID-19.

Find our more by listening to our Executive Director Angela Marie MacDougall’s interview alongside Feminists Deliver’s Priscilla Omulo with CBC’s Stephen Quinn.

We’re now a part of BC Society of Transition Houses

We’re excited to be members of the BC Society of Transition Houses, which supports anti-violence workers in their work to provide the most compassionate and effective help possible for women, children and youth experiencing violence. Together, we can be a strong voice for those we support and advocate for the changes needed to end violence against women, children and youth.

Help End Violence against Women, Join our Volunteer Team

 

Be Part of the Movement to End Violence against Women, BWSS Prevention and Intervention Training – Spring 2018

 

 

If you’re in the vicinity of metro Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory and want to help end violence against women, Battered Women’s Support Services is accepting applications for our Violence Prevention and Intervention Training Program Spring 2018.

We are proud to have an amazing team of over 100 volunteers who work with us answering our crisis line, providing resources, creating personalized safety plans and facilitating support groups for self-identified women survivors of male violence. Volunteers are carefully selected and training is an intensive twelve week program grounded in strong theoretical frameworks and thorough skill development. Our crisis line is a busy one where we respond to over 10,000 requests for support services annually.

 

 

Spring training commences March 2018

It’s a one of a kind training that we have delivered for almost 40 years. Graduates describe their experiences as “life changing” and most graduates further their social justice, educational and/or professional goals as a direct result of our training and practicum.

Information sessions will be held on January 17th at 6PM and January 18th at 3PM

To register for an upcoming information session email Claudia at intake@bwss.org or call us at 604-687-1868.

 
Help End Violence against Women, Join our Volunteer Team

 

CORE Training

If you’re not able to attend Violence Prevention and Intervention Training you may want to consider bringing BWSS Core Training to your workplace or community group.

Our customized training programs are designed in consultation with you and your team built around your budget and time availability with proven results. For more information about Core Training including sample training design and testimonials please email endingviolence@bwss.org

Violence Prevention and Intervention Training Fall 2017

If you’re in the vicinity of metro Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory and want to help end violence against women, Battered Women’s Support Services is accepting applications for our Violence Prevention and Intervention Training Program Fall 2017.

This is an intensive twelve week training grounded in strong theoretical frameworks and thorough skill development. The training selection process is rigorous, upon completion of our training trainees perform a practicum answering our crisis line and facilitating support groups for self-identified women survivors of male violence. Our crisis line is a busy one where we respond to over 10,000 requests for support services annually. Training commences in September 2017 and training is held on Fridays.

It’s a one of a kind training that we have delivered for almost 40 years. Graduates describe their experiences as “life changing” and most graduates further their social justice, educational and/or professional goals as a direct result of our training and practicum.

To register for an upcoming information session email Claudia at intake@bwss.org or call us at 1-855-687-1868.

CORE Training

If you’re not able to attend Violence Prevention and Intervention Training you may want to consider bringing BWSS Core Training to your workplace or community group.

Our customized training programs are designed in consultation with you and your team built around your budget and time availability with proven results. For more information about Core Training including sample training design and testimonials please email endingviolence@bwss.org

Violence Prevention and Intervention Training Fall 2017

Violence Prevention & Intervention Volunteer Training Fall 2016

Prevention and Intervention Training Program Fall 2016

Battered Women’s Support Services has been providing Violence Prevention & Intervention Volunteer Training to women who volunteer on our Crisis and Intake Line, facilitate support groups, provide community outreach and education, and participate in special projects and ongoing training.

BWSS provides skills-based training grounded in a strong theoretical framework for understanding violence against women and girls in relationships and systemic oppression over twelve weeks. Participants in training gain skills in crisis intervention, peer counselling, safety assessment, safety planning, advocacy, referrals, group facilitation, and public education.

The training is often described as “transformative” and “life-changing” by participants. It enhances personal empowerment, self-awareness and leadership skills of the women who participate. Since 1979, thousands of women have gone through BWSS’s Violence Prevention & Intervention Volunteer Training and have gained the valuable skills and knowledge that has supported them in obtaining employment following training and volunteer experience.

Information Sessions:
Wednesday, July 27th at 6pm
Thursday, July 28th at 3pm

Training Sessions:
Every Friday between September 23rd and December 16th
9:30am to 4pm

For more information about the Violence Prevention & Intervention Volunteer Training contact Jamie at intake@bwss.org or call 604-687-187 ext.317

 

Violence Prevention July 2016
Download the poster here.

 

Save

Chloe is running for BWSS

Originally from Toronto, Chloe has been an avid runner and engaged philanthropist for years. Encouraged by her mother into running, being active and outdoors is something fun that Chloe and her mother do together.

Chloe takes the opportunity to run while raising funds for local charities.

She is spending the summer in Vancouver and this year for Scotiabank Half Marathon & 5K, Chloe signed up to run before choosing a charity. Later, while looking for a local women’s group to donate to, she found BWSS online and discovered BWSS was a featured charity for Scotiabank 2016. After a careful review of BWSS website, Chloe found the site very informative and noticed that BWSS works with all women, providing specialized services for Immigrant and Refugee women and culturally relevant support for Indigenous women.

Run 4 BWSS

Chloe then set off raising funds for BWSS. She set a fundraising goal and through the support of her community she has surpassed her original goal.

As a philanthropist, Chloe believes in the act of giving and loves to give back to community.

She really appreciates organized runs like Scotiabank Half Marathon & 5K as a great way to bring people together and a great way to meet people.

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On June 26th, Chloe will run a half marathon, that’s 21K. No stranger to challenges, Chloe is turning this year’s run into a pursuit of possibility that violence against women can be prevent.

Thank you Chloe for inspiring all of us with your commitment to being active, outdoors and to making a real difference in community.

 

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