You can
Support Survivors
There’s More Support for Survivors
Family Services of Greater Vancouver is walking with survivors, every step of the way.
Each year, FSGV is there for more than 850 survivors, but there are still many others waiting for support.
FSGV provides individualized supports and counselling to victims and survivors of violence, exploitation, and other abuses. We know that investing in survivor-centered services is critical in breaking cycles of violence and trauma and in creating safer communities. You have the power to stand with survivors: your generosity makes our free, trauma-informed, client-led care possible. Let’s stand together—to ensure there’s more support for survivors of all ages.
FSGV Victim Support Workers are working with people who are usually still in the thick of what it is they’re surviving: intimate partner violence, exploitation or trafficking, elder abuse, and more. Right now, we only have the capacity to support on the most critical cases – approximately 4-5% of total cases reported to police. We are working hard to give the best care we can, but with demands rising we can’t support everyone who needs it.
“At times our unit can be extremely busy with many high-risk files requiring our attention at once.”
–Tamara, Victim Support Worker
Our hope is to expand our reach so that no one has to walk their path alone. Our Victim Services and Trauma Counselling programs are offering support every step of the way. We don’t just offer support if someone is going through the criminal justice system, we’re here while they find and build safety in their lives, while they heal, and while they reconnect with themselves and their joy.
“Without this program I wouldn’t have been able to access trauma counselling. This service has been invaluable. While I am very grateful for the service, I understand the demand is high so the waitlist was unsustainably long. Once I started counselling, I was able to focus on healing and improving my quality of life. This program deserves to be generously funded to continue serving the community.”
Trauma Counselling Client
“I really appreciate that the counselors are trauma informed and the amount of time allowed was greatly appreciated as therapy is not a quick process, I felt that there was a plan of action with follow through of what I wanted and needed to work on. Clearly a lot of work has been put into figuring out what actually works for people accessing these initiatives and it shows. Please keep doing exactly what you are doing, it works and it is a very valuable service for the community. Thank you.”
Trauma Counselling Client
“I got so much from this program and would recommend it to anyone affected by violence in their lives. To have 2 years of trauma informed care was amazing for me. This kind of long term care is actually what helps people. So many counselling opportunities I’ve had in the past are short term and don’t provide the level of care I found in both of my counsellors. This program has helped me heal and grow and I now feel like I’m working more on thriving and not just surviving. To be a queer person of colour and be able to have the first counsellor ever who was also a qpoc has been invaluable! “
Trauma Counselling Client
“First off, if someone is reporting some form of abuse, one should always have a support worker. This process would have been even harder without one assigned to me. Looking back, if I didn’t have one during my darkest times in this process, I could have harmed myself. She never judged me, she always answered if I called in crisis, and I could access her as a resource so easily by phone, text, email, or in person. She has made me feel safer during this anxiety inducing experience. Knowing that I had someone to emotionally support me in a trauma informed way has made all the difference in the world.”
Victim Services Client
In SAIP (the Sexual Abuse Intervention Program), we walk alongside children and youth who have experienced sexual abuse, helping them reclaim their sense of safety, trust, and hope. Through personalized, strength-based counselling, we support children as young as 3 and youth up to 18 in their healing journey—with a focus not only on coping, but on growing.
Every path is different. That’s why we offer a range of trauma-informed supports tailored to each individual’s needs—including one-on-one counselling, therapeutic play and art sessions, and referrals to trusted community resources. We also work closely with parents and caregivers, equipping them with the tools to support their child’s recovery and resilience.
Our approach centers the dignity and voice of every young person we work with, because every child deserve the chance to reclaim their story on their own terms.
SAIP is just one of our seven Trauma Counselling programs helping survivors reconnect with themselves and their joy.
You have the power to stand with survivors: your generosity makes our free, trauma-informed, client-led care possible. Let’s stand together—to ensure there’s more support for survivors of all ages.