B W S S BATTERED WOMENS SUPPORT SERVICES ASSOCIATION

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, V5L5G2 Canada

Mission Statement

We contribute to the freedom and liberation of girls and women from violence and to empower our community through training and education programs. For over 35 years, we have been providing counselling and healing spaces for those who have experienced abuse. To help women build strength and resiliency, we work on systemic advocacy, law reform, in-class youth engagement programs and we operate a social enterprise called My Sister’s Closet in British Columbia. In addition, we support our male counterparts by urging them to own their role in ending violence against girls and women.

About This Cause

Mission Statement: Battered Women’s Support Services provides education, advocacy and support services to assist all battered women in its aim to work towards the elimination of violence and to work from a feminist perspective that promotes equality for all women. Critical and Essential Services: Battered Women’s Support Services responds to over 8,000 direct service requests, in 2008: •Over 5460 women called our Crisis Line •Over 1300 women accessed Crisis Support and Accompaniment •Over 2304 women accessed Counselling •Over 3650 Counselling sessions were provided •Over 980 women accessed Support Groups •Over 1,200 women who were starting over received clothing and/or household items Diversity •Percentage of women who self identified as recent immigrants: 42% •Percentage of women who self identified as Aboriginal, Indigenous, First Nations, Native, Indian or Métis: 18% •Percentage of women who self identified as refugee: 2% BWSS Provides: •Crisis Support •Counselling – Long term and Stopping the Violence Counselling •Victim Services •Legal Advocacy •Indigenous Women’s Program •Advancing Women’s Awareness Regarding Employment (AWARE) Program •Latin American Women’s Program •Women’s Safety and Outreach Program •Violence Prevention & Intervention Volunteer Training •Law Reform •Retail Program •Strategic Interventions Training for Service Providers •Social Enterprise

B W S S BATTERED WOMENS SUPPORT SERVICES ASSOCIATION
Po Box 21503 1424 Commercial Drive
VANCOUVER, British Columbia V5L5G2
Canada
Phone 604-687-1868
Website WWW.BWSS.ORG
Unique Identifier 130361611RR0001