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.

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

Download the poster here

Twice a year, BWSS offers training for self-identified women who want to volunteer on our Crisis and Intake Line to provide crisis support to women survivors of violence.

PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN:

• Theoretical Framework of Violence Against Women

• Crisis Intervention and Peer Counselling

• Safety Planning

• Group Facilitation and Group Design

• Criminal, Family, and Immigration Law

• Anti-Oppression Analysis and Decolonizing Practice

• Reproductive Justice Framework

• Sex, Sexuality, and Healing from Sexualized Violence and Abuse

• Support for Indigenous Women who have experienced the impacts of colonization, assimilation, residential schools, and the intergenerational effects of residential schools

• Support for Non-Status, Refugee, and Immigrant Women and Women with Precarious Immigration Status who have experienced gendered persecution, political persecution, sexualized violence, and intimate violence

• Support for LGBT*Q2S Survivors of Violence and Abuse

•  and more…

JOIN Battered Women’s Support Services and provide support to self-identified women survivors of violence on our Crisis and Intake Line, facilitate support groups, provide community outreach and education, and participate in special projects and ongoing training.

TRAINING SESSION:
Between SEPTEMBER 18 and DECEMBER 4

TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL Emma at 604.687.1868 ext. 317 or EMAIL intake@bwss.org

If you could do something to end violence against girls and women, wouldn’t you?

by Pavan K. Johal

Every week I come to BWSS not knowing what kind of phone calls I would get. There were days I would feel heavy hearted for the women and their stories.  I felt compelled to help in any way possible. My volunteer back up and I would try to get any information, resources or connections that would help the woman on the line.  Sometimes all someone needs is an empathetic voice telling them, “I am here for you and I understand what you are going through”. I learned how much the crisis line workers help by being sincere listeners to someone talking about their hurt and the violence they survived.  Women are so strong for being able to share their story with a volunteer, but on the contrary they are constantly being told that they are not strong and that the abuse might be their fault.  One of the rewarding things about working on the crisis and intake line is the sincere “thank you” from a woman at the end of a call. Never in my life has a “thank you” felt as sincere as when I realized I helped a woman escape violence and which saved her life. It is not just me, but each and every volunteer and worker that contribute to BWSS makes a difference in women’s lives. Whether it is someone who just needs to talk, someone needing to escape a violent situation or needing a transition home for her and her children, we make a difference.  After my shifts are over I hope each woman received help and found safety.

After volunteering on the crisis and intake line, I started to co-facilitate the Healing Connections drop-in group (running every Tuesday from 12pm to 2pm). What a change it was from speaking to women solely over the telephone to face to face.  It is always wonderful to see all the women who connect and escape from isolation. It is beautiful to see that although women are in a struggle they can still empower each other through sharing their stories. When I enter the room I can feel that this is a place where no one is judged, we all have our own stories about why we are here and through our stories we can help others realize they are not alone and there is a way through this dark period. After a few weeks volunteering for the drop in group I realized how much of a difference one person can make.

I was told that one person cannot create a change, but my experience at BWSS has proven that each one of us and our work create a positive change. BWSS answers over 13,000 crisis calls per year and without each individual woman working the lines we would not be able to help so many women escape violence.

I am a true believer in the power of one. If one woman speaks up and tells her story, five will hear it and realize they are not alone. If one volunteer picks up the crisis line and speaks to a woman for 20 minutes, that phone call helped her. At BWSS I feel I have made a difference in saving lives and helping women survive in a world of oppression.

Read more about our 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign:

International Day to End Violence Against Women in Canada

Culture Shifts Recognized as Women’s Group Commemorates 35 years of Work to End Violence Against Women

Women’s Leadership for One Future Without Violence

The Dynamics of Power and Control After Separation in Relation to the Family Law Processes

16 Steps for Discovery and Empowerment 

Decolonizing and Healing Through Ceremonies

The Power of Support Groups at BWSS

If you could do something to end violence against girls and women, wouldn’t you?

2014 Women’s Safety and Outreach Volunteer Training

BWSS offers training for women who want to volunteer for our Women’s Safety and Outreach Program to provide crisis support to girls and women survivors of gender violence in Downtown Eastside Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory.

Join Battered Women’s Support Services to provide mobile crisis support, to participate in education and outreach services and take action in the global movement to male end violence against women.

Participants will learn:
• Theoretical framework to understand the roots of violence against women globally
• Historical framework to understand the roots violence against women in Downtown Eastside Vancouver
• Crisis intervention and support skills for women survivors of physical and/or sexual violence
• Assessment and safety planning
• Peer counselling and communication skills
• Applying a decolonizing and anti-oppression analysis
• Supporting women with the intersection of Trauma, Substance Use and Mental Ill Health
• Advocacy and accompaniment skills to help women navigate various systems including legal and housing

Information Session • THURSDAY, September 25, 2014  6-7 PM
Training Dates • October 11,12 and October 18,19, 2014

For more information contact Terriea.
PHONE 778-239-3887
EMAIL terriea@bwss.org

You can download poster here.

Last year, Battered Women’s Support Services responded to over 13,000 crisis calls from women and girls to get help and end violence. We could not provide this essential support without your contribution.

Women’s Safety and Outreach Program

After a successful pilot project, The Women’s Safety and Outreach Program for women and girls in the Downtown Eastside, Vancouver that have experienced gender violence/abuse is re-launching for the month of April.

Women and girls of the Downtown Eastside Vancouver Community experience gender violence at disproportionate rates.  Pushed to the absolute margins of society, predators seek to exploit the many layers of oppression women and girls of the community are navigating. Working in collaboration with other community providers, the Women’s Safety and Outreach addresses a gap in outreach support services for women by women, Monday – Friday from 5p.m to 1 a.m.

We provide women-centered, non-judgemental support that is enveloped in an awareness of the impact that trauma/gender violence has on a woman’s ability to cope. Services provided include crisis intervention and support, safety planning, advocacy, accompaniments, resource referral, transportation, counselling, outreach supplies and so much more.

2014 Women’s Safety and Outreach Volunteer Training

BWSS offers training for women who want to volunteer for our Women’s Safety and Outreach Program to provide crisis support to girls and women survivors of gender violence and/or abuse in the Downtown Eastside, Vancouver.

Join Battered Women’s Support Services to provide crisis support and to participate in education and outreach services.

Participants will learn:
• Crisis intervention and support
• Safety planning
• Peer counselling and communication
• Anti-Oppression Analysis
• Intersection of Trauma and Substance Use/Mental Health
• Theoretical Feminist Framework of Violence against women
• Criminal, Family and Immigration Law
• Group Facilitation skills and so much more.

Information Session • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 6-7 PM
Training Dates • MARCH 29 & 30 • APRIL 5 & 6, 11 AM – 5 PM

To register or for more information contact Terriea.
PHONE 778-239-3887
EMAIL terriea@bwss.org

You can download poster here.

Last year, Battered Women’s Support Services responded to over 10,000 crisis calls from women and girls to get help and end violence. We could not provide this essential support without your contribution.