Support for Women

Any woman who has experienced abuse in an intimate relationship, childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault may access our services.

Support for Women

Any woman who has experienced abuse in an intimate relationship, childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault may access our services.

 

Abuse takes many different forms and BWSS recognizes all types of abuse.

Every woman has the right to be safe and free from violence. BWSS provides a secure environment in which women are free to express themselves without being judged or threatened.

 

In this section:

Crisis & Intake Line

We currently have over 100 fully trained crisis line team members available to provide support and information for:

🔴 Community resources and referrals to transition houses, lawyers, medical services

🔴 Safety planning

🔴 Information on specific support groups for Black, Latina, LGBTQIA2S+ and Indigenous women

🔴 Legal remedies including protection orders

🔴 Support and referrals for immigrant women

We also provide immediate emotional support and practical assistance to help you cope more effectively should you be experiencing a crisis. We offer immediate, short-term help to survivors of violent intimate relationships, childhood sexual abuse and adult sexual assault.

If you or someone you love is in need of support, please contact our Crisis Line:

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868
Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867

Email: intake@bwss.org

Learn More >

Counselling, Support Groups & Programs

BWSS provides long-term individual Stopping the Violence counselling for women who are currently experiencing violence and/or who are survivors of violence including childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault. BWSS also provides support to women survivors of Indian Residential Schools and/or foster care.

Additionally, BWSS is committed to offering drop-in, closed and specialized support groups to women dealing with violence and its effects. BWSS support groups provide a safe place for women to connect with each other in order to alleviate isolation, share information, raise awareness, heal by developing coping and recovery skills and plan for a life free from violence.

Indigenous Women’s Program

Battered Women’s Support Services offers culturally appropriate services run by Indigenous women for Indigenous women.

The Indigenous Women’s Program offers direct services through drum groups, counselling, and different ceremonies such as full moon and sweat lodge ceremonies. We are decolonizing and healing from the trauma of colonization, the effects and intergenerational effects of residential schools, the loss of our children, and living life in a patriarchal society.

By using holistic practices through traditional medicines and ceremonies, we are healing from these traumas and reclaiming our rightful roles as strong Indigenous women in our community, finding our voices and standing strong in our power.

Learn more about the Indigenous Women's Program here >

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868
Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867

LGBTQ2S and non-binary survivors of violence
BWSS recognizes that despite its absence in common media and anti-violence information, same gender and same sex abuse is widespread and prevalent.

It is a reality in our communities and may be confusing to identify. BWSS is committed to facing this reality and providing relevant services and support for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, queer, transgender, two-spirit, and non-binary survivors of violence.

Resources for LGBTQ2S and non-binary survivors of violence >

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868
Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867

Victim Services Program

BWSS Victim Services Program provides direct services, legal assistance and systems based information, crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, court accompaniment and referrals to women and female youth survivors of violence in intimate relationships and/or criminal harassment.

The core services in the program are assessment and safety planning, lethality and risk assessment, and the provision of general information to women regarding the criminal justice system including crisis intervention, emotional support, assistance with filling out Crime Victim Assistance Program Forms and Victim Impact Statements. Additionally we provide information on the status of police investigation and information on the role of the various players in the justice system and the practicalities of testifying as a witness, including court preparation and witness orientation. We also provide referrals and systemic advocacy for women who are navigating the Canadian legal system.

Learn more about the Victim Services program here >

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868
Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867

AWARE Program

The BWSS Advancing Women’s Awareness Regarding Employment Program (AWARE) helps women move out of the cycle of trauma and violence through employment and economic development.

This program recognizes and addresses unique barriers facing women and supports women who have experienced violence and abuse to move towards independence and self-reliance.

Learn more about AWARE here >

My Sister's Closet

One of the many ways we meet the needs of women in our community is through social enterprise. This includes our Retail Program and our thrift boutique, My Sister's Closet with two locations, 3958 Main St., Vancouver and 1830 Commercial Dr., Vancouver. Clothing and accessories for all genders are donated to our boutique and the proceeds go to fund the services and programs BWSS offers.

My Sister's Closet provides volunteer experience which often increases esteem, confidence, and employability. Local artisans are also supported by having their creations sold at My Sister’s Closet. The boutique provides a safe and welcoming space for community to engage with BWSS and join our efforts in ending violence against girls and women.

Learn more about My Sister's Closet here >

Shop online here >

Legal Resources & Services

The Justice Centre at BWSS is a community- based legal clinic, providing trauma and violence informed, multilingual, and culturally responsive legal services to women and femmes who are facing issues with family law, immigration, child welfare, sexual assault and/or the criminal justice system.

To make an appointment with the Justice Centre please call our Crisis and Intake line toll-free 1-855-687-1868 or in Metro Vancouver 604-687-1867.

Black Women’s Program

BWSS offers a range of support groups and specialized support groups as part of the Black Women’s Program.

Participants are surrounded and supported by women who have a common and distinctive shared ancestral history without the need to censor themselves, or perform for others. This network of women comes together to bear witness and create a healing space each in other’s lives, struggles, and transformations.

Learn more about the Black Women's Program here >

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868
Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867

Latin American Women’s Program

At BWSS, we acknowledge the struggles of Latin American immigrant women who are fleeing violence from their native country, who may have been tortured, or undergone systemic violence and oppression.

The program offers survivor assistance support, long term counselling and a support group in their own language.

Programa para Mujeres Latino Americanas >

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868
Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867

Thrive Program

Thrive is one of our programs at BWSS that is carefully-designed to support the diverse needs of women with lived experience in sex economies in setting and achieving their goals.

Thrive takes a rights based approach and meet women where they are at to best identify their needs, goals and challenges. Thrive continuous intake process helps women find what she requires for her individual situation and needs. For more information about Thrive please email thrive@bwss.org

Learn more about Thrive here >

Call toll-free: 1-855-687-1868
Metro Vancouver: 604-687-1867

Volunteer Training & Opportunities

Working from a feminist, anti-oppression perspective BWSS offers our Violence Prevention and Intervention Volunteer Training Program twice a year. Through the training volunteers gain knowledge and skills in crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, community resources, and group facilitation skills to then be able to provide support to women who call our crisis line and attend some of our support groups.

We also have additional opportunities for volunteers in our office.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities here >

Research & Policy

The Gender Equity Learning & Knowledge Exchange is the Research and Policy Division of Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS).

This new section of BWSS strengthens our impact by mobilizing community-based experiences and evidence-informed resources from an intersectional, anti-oppressive, feminist and critical race theory, analysis, and practice.

Learn more about our Research & Policy division >