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I am very optimistic that things will turn around for me and that it is up to me to bring about the change in my life. By knowing what it is that I want from now on, I will take the initiative to make it happen. Self reliance and confidence in myself is the key to the future success in establishing a new and happier life.
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~ Former VWTH Client
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VWTH Women's Drop-In Support Group
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Counselling and support for women impacted by domestic abuse is a critical need in our community. At Victoria Women's Transition House, we provide services to help women and their children heal from their trauma and, when needed, refe
r them to various commun
ity resources that will assist in
their effort to create a safe and stable life, once they are no longer in crisis. However, due to growing demand from women in the community, VWTH's wait list has continued to increase and accessing these critical counselling services, especially for survivors of domestic abuse, has become our urgent concern.
Victoria Women's Transition House is grateful for the continued funding from the Victoria Foundation, as well as a partnership with the YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island, to help us deliver the
VWTH Women's Drop-In Support Group to the Greater Victoria community. Led by two experienced VWTH women's counsellors and facilitators, the Women's Drop-In Support Group gives women the opportunity to connect with other survivors, share their experiences, offer and receive support, as well as receive referrals to community resources.
As childcare is often a barrier for women, providing child-minding to women who have children as part of the initiative, helps address childcare concerns that often causes delay or even prevent women from accessing counselling services in the community.
For more information about the VWTH Women's Drop-In Support Group, please contact our Crisis & Information Line at 250.385.6611.
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Children Who Witness Abuse (CWWA) Name Change
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Over the past year, every Canadian classroom has between two and six children or youth that witnessed some form of abuse in the home.
These young people often experience the same types of emotional and behavioral challenges faced by those who are directly abused themselves. Without counselling and support, exposure to this abuse can make a child more likely to grow up to be a victim or a perpetrator of domestic abuse.
Victoria Women's Transition House is one of a number of agencies in BC that offers specialized counselling for children and youth exposed to domestic violence and abuse. In fact, 2017 marked the 25th anniversary of the Children Who Witness Abuse Program, a counselling program guided by the BC Society of Transition Houses that grew out of concern identified by front line workers for the children of women accessing counselling, shelter and support services from various BC Transition Houses.
In 1992, the B.C./Yukon Society of Transition Houses responded to this need with a study commissioned to research the impact of children's exposure to the abuse of their mothers. This resulted in the development of a program to support children and youth exposed to violence against women. At that time, 41 CWWA pilot programs were launched across BC with 90 CWWA programs operating today in 86 Agencies throughout the Province.
Over the years, members of the BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH), including VWTH, have discussed changing the name for the CWWA program to reflect the current work of the anti-violence workers and to be more inclusive to the children and youth accessing the program. After many in-depth consultations with BCSTH member agencies, a decision was made to change the name of the program to PEACE - "Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling and Empowerment" for children and youth.
As the PEACE program, Victoria Women's Transition House is proud to continue our work to support children and youth recovering from the impact of domestic violence and abuse.
~ From information provided by the BC Society of Transition Houses
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Victoria Women's Transition House is looking for volunteers.
We need folks to help with
meal preparation, cooking and baking; minor household repairs; gardening; sorting donated items; hosting information tables at VWTH events and fundraisers and other tasks.
An interview, criminal record check and VWTH volunteer training is required.
For more information. Please contact Carol Bilson at 250-592-2927 ext 221 and ask about our 2017/18 volunteer training in January.
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So many of our programs and services rely on the time and expertise of our amazing volunteers. Come join our team!
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Thank you to the many individuals, companies and service clubs that recently donated grocery and pharmacy gift cards. Your gift card donation helped our Holiday Hamper families and supported women leaving our Shelter as well as VWTH counselling clients.
But it's not too late to make a donation! Grocery gift cards are needed year-round to support our clients and help them purchase groceries, fresh produce, diapers and more. Your gift card from Fairway Markets, Walmart, Thrifty Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs or other grocery stores or pharmacies is greatly appreciated.
Just drop-off or mail-in your gift card to our Community Office: #100-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria, BC V8T 3J5. And don't forget to include your name, address and value of the gift card so we can send you a note of appreciation. On behalf of the women and children we serve, thank you.
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Table Hosts - Donor Cultivation Breakfast
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We are looking for ten friendly VWTH donors who are committed and passionate about our Agency and our cause to host a table of four guests at an upcoming VWTH Donor Cultivation Breakfast.
Table Hosts will secure four individuals - friends, family or colleagues - who are not VWTH donors to join them at a VWTH Donor Cultivation Breakfast at a convenient downtown location in the early Spring. Each table is co-hosted by a program counsellor and all guests will enjoy a light breakfast and a group presentation spotlighting our VWTH shelter and counselling programs and services. No cost to you or your guests - other than a charitable donation! Interested? Call or email Susan Howard, 250-592-2927 ext 210 or [email protected].
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We are tremendously grateful for the spirit of giving
in our community!
A heartfelt thank you to those have supported us and continue to support Victoria Women's Transition House.
(First row from left to right): Coast Capital Insurance - Eagle Creek; Huntingdon Manor and all the businesses that supported their Christmas Stocking Drive for VWTH; Unifor Local 114;
(Second row from left to right): CIBC Children's Foundation and CIBC Wood Gundy; Linda Ferguson from The Shoebox Project Victoria; Saanich Baptist Church.
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Recently, we sat down for coffee with VWTH donor Karen Lindsay.
What is your connection to
Victoria Women's Transition
House? What interests you the
most about our agency?
I am a simple donor, and have been since 1994. I admire greatly the levels of safety, support, training and care you provide women and children who have arrived at the shelter and are in need of assistance.
Remembering the very first time you made a gift to VWTH, what prompted you to make that donation? Why is it important to you to continue your support over the years?
My mother died in September 1993. It was my sister's suggestion that we donate her clothes and household goods to a women's shelter. This felt like a perfect thing to do, as my father had been a violent man and back in the 60's, there were no support for women and children like us. In fact, judgement and shame were heaped upon "broken families", so my mother stayed until he left us. After the initial donation of my mom's items to another women's organization in Victoria, I wanted to do something on a permanent basis for Victoria women who had the courage to leave abusive partners. The Victoria Women's Transition House was a perfect fit. As to why I keep it up, I believe with all my heart that when women take a step forward, a step up, the whole culture is lifted. Women may be an easy target to beat with fists, but our hearts and souls are stronger than hate, stronger than rage. Women are fierce and with a little help from others, we become unbeatable.
What words of encouragement would you like to share with our clients?
You have already taken the hardest step, the step out that door. Keep your courage up, and when that fails, lean on someone worthy of your trust. Believe in yourself even when you cannot immediately connect with the people who believe in you. Things get better. You are not alone.
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I
n case you missed it...
Here are some interesting articles that we shared recently via social media.
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Victoria Women's Transition House Society, working collaboratively, provides shelter, support, counselling and education to women of all ages, with or without children, so that they can live free from the effects of abuse in intimate relationships. The Society strives to prevent and eliminate abuse through education, advocacy and partnerships.
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Victoria Women's Transition House Society is a registered charity.
Our charitable registration
number is: 10817 3501 RR0001.
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