VSAC Spring Newsletter 2021

Persevering through crisis

Since the pandemic's onset the need for the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre's services has risen. In the fall, wait times for crisis counselling hit a record high of four months.

The survivors seeking these services are some of the most vulnerable clients: youth, recent survivors, and those in crisis. The need to address the waitlist was urgent.

We asked our community to help us address the amplified need and throughout the fall and winter we received generous donations and grants that allowed us to hire additional staff.

Thanks to community backing, we have reduced the crisis counselling waitlist significantly. As of February 2021, we were able to provide service to every person on the waitlist! We are excited to share this encouraging news with you! Today if a survivor calls us for help they can see a counsellor within a week.

Together we are persevering through challenging times and realizing timely service for survivors. We are grateful to every community member and business that has donated and fundraised, and to our grantors who have provided funding at this critical time - Thank you.

We are determined to keep the waitlist at zero. We will continue to fundraise to support the increased staff hours that have allowed us to provide timely support to survivors.

SERVICES WE OFFER:

Our staff and volunteers continue to provide essential support services during the pandemic:

• The Access Line provides support and intake to our services.
• The Sexual Assault Clinic provides immediate emotional support, medical care, & options for reporting to police in one safe, survivor-focused location.
• Crisis counselling helps to build safety & stabilization.
• Counselling groups provide education, skills, & connection.
• Trauma counselling helps survivors to work through the long-term impacts of trauma.
• Victim Services provides help to navigate the criminal justice system.
• Prevention Education to end sexualized violence & create inclusive communities.

Counselling and Victim Service appointments are now available virtually and via phone. The Sexual Assault Response Team continues to provided 24-7 emergency support and medical care at our Clinic, adhering to Provincial safety guidelines.

Want to access our services? Call our Service Access Line at 250-383-3232 or email access@vsac.ca for intake and info.

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

Thank you to every individual who has supported us through the pandemic. Your donations truly make a difference in survivor's lives. You keep the doors open, services available, and hope alive in survivors hearts.

#201-3060 CEDAR HILL RD. VICTORIA, BC, V8T 3J5 BUSINESS LINE: 250-383-5545 SERVICE ACCESS LINE: 250-383-3232 VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.VSAC.CA CHARITABLE BUSINESS NUMBER: #10822 0054 RR0001

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Highlights of 2020...

• Our counselling services provided over 2000 individual counselling sessions this year. We were able to continue providing services with no major disruptions due to the nimbleness of staff and quick transition to phone and virtual platforms for service.
• We adapted our Skills for Healing groups to be provided virtually, providing clients with the necessary skills to undertake trauma therapy while waiting for individual service. We were able to offer the group two times in Fall 2020.
• Our Victim Services Team spent hundreds of hours providing justice support, and welcomed 198 new clients to the program.
• The Sexual Assault Response Team provided 105 recent survivors with critical crisis support, medical interventions, and access to justice at our Clinic.
• Project Respect partnered with the Girls and Femmes with Afro-Textured Hair group to develop and facilitate consent and bystander intervention workshops that are responsive to the needs and realities of Black youth in our community.

FAST FIVE FUNDRAISER

Join us this April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month as we raise awareness about sexualized violence and funds to support survivors.

The Fast Five is a peer-to-peer campaign to raise funds for VSAC's emergency and crisis services. By participating, you can help us raise awareness of and sustain these urgent services for survivors.

Getting involved is easy:

1. Let us know you want to fundraise: Call Carissa at 250-383-5545 ext. 115 or email carissar@vsac.ca. We will send you a fundraising kit with shareable social media content,
2. Set up your online fundraising page where your supporters can make an immediate donation,
3. Share your fundraising page through email and on social media.

Visit https://vsac.ca/fastfive to setup your fundraising page and for more information!

If you’ve been thinking of doing some fundraising this spring, don’t wait! Get involved with the Fast Five!

Questions? Contact Carissa at 250-383-5545 or email carissar@vsac.ca.

Thank You to our Funders

Supporting Survivors: How to Help a Friend or Family Member

During the pandemic you may feel more overwhelmed or uncertain on how to provide support. If your friend or loved one has disclosed that they have experience sexual assault, here are some steps you can take:

Listen: Your loved one may really need someone to hear their story. Be non-judgmental and understanding. Reassure them that it was not their fault. “You didn’t do anything to deserve this; it’s not your fault.”

Believe: It is important for someone who has been sexually assaulted to have people believe in what has happened. Remember most people do not lie about being abused or assaulted.

Support: “I’m really glad you’ve reached out for help.” Remember it is important to be there for your friend later on too. During the days, weeks and months following the assault your friend will still need your support.

Ensure Physical Safety: "Are you safe now?” and offer to help find support if they wish. “We can contact someone at the Sexual Assault Centre who can help you or even just give you more information confidentially.”

Trust your connection with the survivor & try to balance the support you offer with support you give yourself.

For more information on how to support a survivor in your life, visit our website: https://vsac.ca/how-to-help/