British Columbia
Violence Prevention Grants
SWOVA Community Development & Research Society, Salt Spring Island (multi-year teen violence prevention grant)
2006-2010: $180,000 over four years
Respectful Relationships is an award-winning school-based violence prevention program for youth. The project engages with youth at a time when relationships are a big part of what they are thinking about, where their energy is focused, and what they want to understand. Interactive workshops, designed to help students develop healthy, respectful and safe relationships, are delivered by a team of adult facilitators (male and female), and are co-facilitated by trained high school students who are part of the program youth team. The workshops include creative awareness around dating violence, systemic violence, bullying, racism, homophobia, influence of the media, peer pressure, sexual harassment, dealing with anger, and skill-building to develop and maintain self-esteem and safe relationships.
Respectful Relationships is one of four programs to receive a multi-year teen violence prevention grant from CWF. Each of the programs uses a variety of delivery methods to determine the best approaches for preventing violence in teens’ lives. In year four, the grant recipients will participate in a cross-Canada learning event to share knowledge and best practices with other programs.
Prince George United Way – Prince George New Hope Society
2008: $24,829
This year-long outreach initiative will engage young people of experience as peer educators on the subject of sexual exploitation. Girls aged 13 to 19 will present workshops to youth and adult audiences in Prince George and Northern BC. Attendees will hear personal stories of sexual exploitation and learn about lure tactics, warning signs for recruitment, prevention strategies, myths and facts, emotional and physical impact and community resources. This initiative hopes to reach more than 500 participants in at least 10 agencies, youth centres, law enforcement offices and the general community.
Surrey Women's Centre Society
2008: $28,000
This 3-year pilot project is designed to enhance the range of supports in the courthouse for South Asian victims of domestic violence. It is a collaborative partnership between a multi-lingual victim service worker and Surrey Crown Counsel that will respond to high risk cases of domestic violence in South Asian communities. The primary goal is to increase the safety of New Canadians at-risk of serious physical injury or death through the successful prosecution of domestic violence cases. The project is housed in the Surrey Courthouse serving the municipalities of Surrey,
North Shore Crisis Services Society, North Vancouver
2008: $18,679
This initiative will offer long-term support through counselling, advocacy and referrals to women and their children after leaving an abusive relationship. This program focuses on high-risk, high-need women and families living in a rural area where resources are scarce. After staying for a maximum of two years, these families will have the tools to establish independent, self-sufficient lives.
North Coast Transition Society, Prince Rupert
2008: $19,200 (2004: $25,000)
The Sustaining Relations project, led by the Supportive Recovery Program, is a substance abuse counselling initiative that addresses the intersection of substance misuse with violence in the lives of First Nations women on reserve. This initiative is a continuation and expansion of the successful Building Relations project. By continuing to work with the First Nations people in the isolated reserves surrounding Prince Rupert, this shelter will help to further expand the social safety net.
BC Community Housing Land Trust Foundation, Vancouver
2008: $25,000
CWF’s grant will increase the Domestic Violence Relief Fund, an endowment established by the CHLTF in 2003. The fund provides interest-free loans (up to $2,000) to help women purchase membership in BC’s non-profit housing co-ops. The co-ops offer safe, affordable, permanent housing and a community that can support women who have left an abusive relationship (all co-ops receive information on violence against women to support new women members and their families).
W.I.N.G.S. Fellowship Ministries, New Westminster
2008: $12,000
CWF’s grant will fund a part-time coordinator to provide service coordination, outreach and advocacy for the 21 member agencies that form the New Westminster Community Action Committee for Women who Have Experienced Violence.
Northern Society for Domestic Peace, Smithers
2008: $17,085
This initiative will offer support to mostly Aboriginal women in geographically-isolated communities around Smithers. Activities will include community education, the development of a referrals network, and financial and resource assistance.
BC Association of Specialized Victim Assistance, Vancouver
2008: $28,000 (2007: $23,000)
CWF’s grant will fund the adaptation of the toolkit Freedom from Violence: Tools for Working with Trauma, Mental Health and Substance Use (funded by CWF in 2007) for use by workers in the Downtown East Side of Vancouver. The toolkit will help service providers reduce re-victimization and improve services for female victims of violence who are also experiencing addition and mental health issues.
Kelowna Family Service Centre Society (2007) $13,000
"Stopping the Violence Reaching Older Women (ROW)" increases community awareness of relationship violence experienced by older women. ROW offers a relationship violence support program and a comfortable environment in which older women can access services. CWF’s grant is being used to help fund counselling services and 16 support groups.
Castlegar & District Community Services Society (2007) $23,000
"Women Moving Beyond the Violence" provides approximately 60 women, who are in or have left violent relationships, with support and information about safety, custody, child access and skills development, so that they can move on from the abuse and rebuild their lives and the lives of their children.
Société Inform Elles, Vancouver (2007) $23,000
This support program offers workshops to help women gain emotional, personal and financial autonomy after having experienced violence. Topics include the cycle of violence, developing coping strategies, and equality in relationships. This program is designed specifically for Francophone-African immigrant or refugee women and emphasizes diversity, inclusion and cultural experience. The group is facilitated by a member of the same community. CWF’s grant is helping to fund the development of three support groups.
Cranbrook Women’s Resource Society (2007) $20,000
"Our Community Coordinated Response to Relationship Violence” rebuilds women's lives through a community response network of 15 agencies. CWF’s grant is being used to hire a project coordinator who will guide and coordinate the work of the East Kootenay Relationship Violence Resource network; develop an inventory of existing services; identify problems, gaps and barriers to those impacted, and develop strategies/responses; and organize community education and cross-sector training.
Comox Valley Transition Society (2007) $15,910
"Be Safe - Girls Educating Girls on Violence Prevention" provides leadership and peer facilitation training to girls aged 15 to 18, and enhances the curriculum of a local girls group through a focus on gender analysis and violence prevention. The anticipated outcome is for 50 pre-teen and adolescent girls to demonstrate increased competence in building safe and healthy relationships.
B.C. Association of Specialized Victim Assistance/ Counselling Programs (2007) $23,000
"Freedom from Violence: Tools for Safety Planning for Women with Mental Health and Substance Use Issues" is developing a resource tool kit focusing on risk assessment and safety planning for training of front line workers in anti-violence programs across British Columbia. The goal of this initiative is to increase the effectiveness of services for victims of violence, who are also experiencing addiction and mental health issues. Freedom from Violence is also working toward raising awareness and reducing the re-victimization of mentally-ill and addicted women. Approximately 250 participants are expected to take part in 2-day sessions.
Lillooet Friendship Centre Society (2007) $12,000
"Breaking the Silence on Violence" provides educational information to youth about violence in relationships, date rape and sexual violence. The program encourages youth to challenge perceptions, share stories and spark change within the community. Activities include a one-day theatre experience and workshop for secondary school students, and a two-day theatre performance at the Friendship Centre followed by four one-day workshops. Twenty five youth are expected to participate.
B.C./Yukon Society of Transition Houses, Vancouver (2005: $10,000, 2006: $25,000, 2007: $10,000)
One of the most difficult obstacles women face after leaving an abusive relationship is the ability to afford living expenses, often causing them (and their children) to remain in dangerous situations. BCYSTH established the Emergency Loan Fund to provide emergency assistance to women fleeing domestic violence and to help them rebuild their lives. A woman can apply, through any shelter in B.C., for a forgivable interest-free loan and thereby increase her ability to re-establish herself in the community.
The Loan Fund is assessed annually and sustained through loan repayment, BCYSTH's fundraising initiatives, and strategic partnerships. Each shelter in B.C./Yukon gets a portion of available funds and screens loan applications. This is a third-year grant to support the emergency loan fund which CWF funded the development of last year.
Project Respect, Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre, Victoria: $22,020 (2006)
Bella Coola, an isolated coastal community in B.C., saw a need for an innovative program that would engage local youth on issues of gender-based violence and sexuality. Bella Coola faces many challenges as a community: poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and intergenerational abuse; all of which contribute to a level of acceptance of sexualized violence, particularly among Bella Coola’s youth.
Building on the success of an existing prevention model, Project Respect engages youth as partners in prevention, empowering them to become mentors. In addition to learning how to increase their own safety and build healthy relationships, teen participants take part in a youth-led prevention initiative that will give them the skills to pass on the knowledge to their peers. The program also mentors community-based youth workers in Bella Coola, so they are equipped to continue supporting youth participants in their violence prevention activities.
Whitevalley Community Resource Centre, Lumby: $19,950 (2006)
This initiative was based on best practices in violence prevention and adapted for the community it serves. The program offers separate sessions for male and female students and provides an opportunity for students to develop violence prevention public service announcements for local cable and community use.
People for a Healthy Community on Gabriola Society
(2004: $3,000, 2006: $17,000, 2007: $20,000)
The "Violence Prevention and Response Team" provides a crisis response system and safety initiatives for women at risk of experiencing violence in this semi-isolated, rural community. The program aims to increase access to services for those at risk, raise community awareness of violence against women, and develop strategies to help women rebuild their lives after experiencing violence. Activities include building capacity and structure around the drop-in women's centre and developing a comprehensive crisis response plan. This program is expected to serve 50 to 100 women.
Reach Community Health Centre, Vancouver: $23,000 (2005)
This initiative offers help to African immigrant and refugee women who are experiencing domestic violence in Canada. Women participate in individual sessions and group sessions over four months, with follow-up sessions provided if required. The program is facilitated by Cross-Cultural Facilitators who have been recruited from the African community, and are familiar with both African and Canadian cultures.
Inter Cultural Association of Greater Victoria: $23,000 (2005)
This initiative brings together women and teenage girls of colour to talk about the issue of violence against women and healthy relationships. The adolescent component includes tips on approaching adults to talk about relationship issues.
West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund, Vancouver: $10,000 (2005)
The "No Means No" project is an interactive series of educational workshops for 11-17 year-olds who are incarcerated in BC. This is a follow-up of the project funded by CWF in 2003. The model has been adjusted to target marginalized youth outside of the traditional schools and is delivered to group homes and other similar venues.
North Shore Crisis Society, Vancouver: $17,598 (2005)
This initiative provides follow-up support to women and children who have resided at SAGE Transition House and are rebuilding their lives after violence by moving into their own accommodation. Participants are offered individual and group support.
Chetwynd Women’s Resource Society, Chetwynd: $20,000 (2004)
This initiative serves an isolated rural community with violence prevention education for survivors of abuse aged 14 to 29. The program includes interactive seminars on self-esteem, recognizing signs of abuse, dating violence, communications skills, lobbying for change.
Nechako Valley Community Services Society, Vanderhoof: $8,393 (2004)
This program builds awareness about violence for young Aboriginal women. Topics addressed are all presented within the context of violence and include domestic violence, gender stereotypes, racism, homophobia, dating, and substance abuse.
North Coast Transition Society, Prince Rupert: $25,000 (2004)
Many women in this northern community face multiple challenges, and some are survivors of abuse who have had to leave families and friends in their First Nations communities to get support. The Women’s Outreach Program provides individual counselling and group sessions that address domestic violence, networking to build support systems, developing independence, single parenting, and planning for the future.
Kootenai Community Centre Society, Creston $24,000 (2004)
A greater than average percentage of the population in this rural area is elderly, living in poverty, and has limited access to services. This initiative gives support to older and/or disabled women who live in abusive relationships. They also pair older women with local high school students to share experiences about living with abuse.