This is an urgent call for Superhero's – Women's Centre Champions – to help us ensure every woman who needs us this year has access to our programs and supports.

In giving, you become a part of our story.

In giving, you will help us meet the demand for service.

In giving, you ensure women have the access to programs and supports they deserve.

In giving, you help women like Michele become empowered and embrace change. Read Michele's story.

$1,000 supports 1 woman for 1 full year
$500 provides 1 woman with access to programs for 6 months
$250 provides grocery gift cards for 10 women and their families
$150 provides 1 winter warmth bundle to a woman or her child
$50 provides 4 women with a personal care hygiene bundle

Embracing change and becoming empowered creates a ripple effect. At Women’s Centre of York Region, we witness the impact of those ripples on our clients and our community. We know when we help a woman regain self-esteem and control in her life, the impact goes far beyond her. Her children and her family feel the positive ripple and in turn create their own – her daughter does better in school with a full stomach and an eager mind. Her employer benefits from her focused efforts in the workplace. Her community benefits from her renewed participation. Our ability to start that first ripple begins with support and donations from individuals and businesses in York Region – IT BEGINS WITH YOU.

In 2016 alone we helped 963 women and their 612 children move forward on their path to thriving personally, socially and economically.

For low and moderate income women who have identified the need and desire for positive change in their lives, Women’s Centre of York Region has been quietly making a difference in their lives for 40 years! We create a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where women feel supported on their journey to create positive change in their lives.

In 2016 we created ripples…

2,213 hours of one-on-one counselling support provided including 912 hours helping women work towards leaving abusive relationships
Programs and supports provided to 963 women and their 612 children, helping them build crucial life skills to effect positive change in their lives
180 winter warmth hampers distributed to 60 clients and their 120 children, ensuring they were prepared for the winter weather
580 transit tickets distributed so women can attend WCYR programs and volunteer in the community
186 personal care hygiene bundles provided to low and moderate income clients and their children, freeing up limited finances to purchase other household necessities
769 grocery gift cards provided to women so they could purchase food for themselves and their families
74 back-to-school backpacks distributed to ensure they or their children have the necessary supplies to participate in school
Non-perishable food items and bread available on a weekly basis for women who qualify for our tangible supports

Despite continued challenges with funding and fundraising, due to increased demand for our services and a plethora of charitable organizations in York Region, we have continued to provide all of our programs and supports to women 18+ from across York Region…

Individual Counselling provides emotional support to women experiencing difficulty with self-esteem, anger, depression, discrimination, cultural and settlement adjustment, disability, separation/divorce, body image, isolation, relationship issues, and stress related to poverty or un/employment.
Transitional Support Counselling provides women with both emotional and practical support to ensure they are able to leave an abusive relationship safely.
Making Changes is a life skills program that enables women to develop the skills necessary to move forward and become clearer and stronger decision makers on issues that affect their lives. The first stage of the Making Changes program covers: Self-Empowerment, Effective Communication and Healthy Boundaries.
Financial Empowerment helps women create a ‘road map’ for handling their money. Topics include learning to set a budget, money attitudes, repairing and using credit, managing debt and how to be a wise consumer. The financial empowerment program helps women create a life of financial stability.
Enterprising Careers is a career exploration program that assists women with their search for meaningful and sustainable employment. Topics include choosing a new career path, re-entering the workforce through paid or unpaid employment, training and self-employment. The program builds self-confidence as women use a variety of tools and resources to identify their interests, skills and values.
Microlending (small business start-up) supports women in starting their own businesses by providing financial literacy training, entrepreneurial mentoring and skill development along with life skill support.
Women’s Centre of York Region offers financially vulnerable women attending our programs basic support such as food resources, personal care items, school supplies, and help with transportation. Eligibility for this tangible supports assistance is based on program participation and financial need.

In 2016 women reported the following outcomes after participating in our programs:

79% feel less isolated
94% feel they are better at listening and communicating with people
78% feel a greater sense of personal safety and security
96% have a clearer and more realistic understanding of their skills and abilities
94% are better at solving problems
86% have more direction in their life and a better sense of where they are going
93% feel better about themselves and have a better sense of who they are
88% are better at coping with stress in their life
96% have more hope for the future
94% are happier
61% are better at making ends meet despite not having additional income
95% would recommend the program to a friend or family member

What our clients have to say...

“This program has given me more strength and has given me a sense of self worth and a sense of positive direction.”

“I now do volunteer work and have contact with people. Before I never interacted with people because I didn’t leave my house.”

“I have more self esteem and self worth.”

“Setting boundaries and not constantly allowing them to be crossed has been a tremendous improvement to my daily life.”

“It has helped me to realize I am not alone. It has given me a lot of confidence and made me more outgoing. There are a lot of volunteer options when you can interact with people.”

“The main thing I have learned is that I have value.”

“Through the feedback from my group, I got in touch with my talents, passions (career wise) and in such way opened up for me new options. Now I am going to start a career I never had thought of. Got the encouragement to set new goals and take action to follow them.”

“I am calmer at dealing with stressful situations, more accepting of myself, and more productive in my life.”

“I’m getting a wonderful tool kit that I can use in my everyday life.”

As you can surely see, our programs transition women from hopelessness to possibility!

At WCYR, we believe that when we take small, meaningful, and conscious actions, the ripple effect can be seen and felt throughout our community.

JOIN US and help to create ripples in our community!