BRIDGES FOR WOMEN SOCIETY

AT BRIDGES WE BELIEVE IN EACH INDIVIDUAL'S RESILIENCE AND CAPACITY TO RECOVER THEIR STRENGTH AND GROW IN CONFIDENCE. WE OFFER SAFE CONFIDENTIAL PROGRAMS TO HELP REDUCE ISOLATION WHILE BUILDING PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS. WE ARE TRAUMA-INFORMED STRENGTHS-BASED AND WOMAN-CENTERED AND WE AIM TO MEET EACH PERSON WHERE THEY ARE AT WITHOUT JUDGEMENT OR EXPECTATION. WE OFFER TRAUMA COUNSELLING SERVICES. COUNSELLING IS INCLUDED IN PROGRAM ENROLLMENT AND IS AVAILABLE AT NO LOW OR SLIDING SCALE COST FOR ELIGIBLE CLIENTS. THE BRIDGES EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (BEP) IS A SIX-MONTH GROUP-BASED PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO SELF-IDENTIFY AS HAVING EXPERIENCED TRAUMA VIOLENCE ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND WHO WANT TO RECLAIM THEIR LIVES. THROUGH INTENTIONAL CURRICULUM AND SKILLED FACILITATORS PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE A RANGE OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOPICS. THE INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S BRIDGING PROGRAMS AIM TO INSPIRE METIS INUIT AND FIRST NATIONS WOMEN LIVING IN RESERVE COMMUNITIES AND IN URBAN AREAS TO BREAK THE CYCLES OF ABUSE AND TRAUMA THROUGH COUNSELLING CULTURAL EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING. A VARIETY OF GUEST SPEAKERS ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITIES ELDERS AND FIELD TRIPS ARE ALSO INCLUDED. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO SELF-IDENTIFIED INDIGENOUS PEOPLES LIVING IN URBAN AREAS OF GREATER VICTORIA AS WELL AS FOR FIRST NATIONS WOMEN LIVING IN THE RESERVE COMMUNITIES OF INDIVIDUAL NATIONS WITHIN THE W'SANEC AND LKWUNGEN TERRITORIES. MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: MENTORS AND MENTEES ARE MATCHED TO PROVIDE VALUABLE LEARNING FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND TO ALLOW MENTEES TO GAIN RELEVANT EXPOSURE TO CAREER POSSIBILITIES THROUGH RESEARCH EXPLORATION BRAINSTORMING AND NETWORKING WHILE BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS.