Victim Services Wellington

VCARS/ Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Service

• Victim Services Wellington is a non-profit community based organization which assists police and emergency services as well as the community in providing short term emotional and practical assistance to the victim(s) of crime, trauma and tragic circumstances.
• Trained volunteers provide short term on-scene emotional support, practical assistance and referral information to victim(s) by connecting them to the appropriate community agencies in order to reduce the overall trauma to the victim(s).
• Victim Services Wellington provides on-site support, telephone support, and referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the victim(s) and their families.
• Emergency service can access Victim Services Wellington by paging our volunteers.

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• Increased, easier access to 911 by providing a wireless phone programmed to 911.
• More safety options by assisting in developing a personal safety plan and ongoing follow-up to ensure safety planning is as current as possible.
• Increased mobility by providing a greater sense of safety.
• Provides information about referral to other services for longer term counseling.

• In order to give the victim(s) of domestic violence a sense of security; ADT provides free, portable alarm systems. Victim Services Wellington and police services work together to monitor person(s) at risk.
• The recipients who are considered to be high risk and who meet the eligibility criteria are provided with a special emergency pendant that is activated by a single push of a button. In turn, the police are immediately dispatched by ADT.
• Recipients of a DVERS alarm are required to complete a safety plan and be in contact with the coordinator on a regular basis.

• Victim Services Wellington and the victim(s) work together to create a personalized safety plan.
• Once a plan is completed the coordinator will follow up with the victim(s) on a regular basis.
• In high risk situations where further safety measures are necessary the victim(s) may be referred to a shelter.

• Victim Services Wellington provides assistance to the victim(s) completing a Victim Impact Statement.
• This statement is a voluntary opportunity for the victim(s) to inform the court how a criminal offence has affected them and the people close to them. These statements are available to any victim(s) of crime or to a family member of a deceased victim(s).
• The information provided on the Victim Impact Statement is useful to the Crown Attorney in understanding the full effect of the offence, in preparing the case and the affects of the crime from the viewpoint of the victim(s).

• SPIRA Fire Victims Relief Fund was created by the employees and management of SPIRA Fire Protection Ltd. to provide immediate financial aid for those who live in Guelph and Wellington County and have experienced a material loss as the result of a residential fire, and have no insurance.
• The current rate of financial assistance is $50.00 per individual and $100.00 per family unit i.e. a family of three people would receive $250.00.
• Victim Services Wellington volunteers will also contact Red Cross if they have services the victim(s) require i.e. housing, clothing.

• The Guelph Police Service and Victim Services Wellington have a satellite office in the Shelldale Centre which is a multi-resource location that provides offices and space for programs, meetings and activities for thirteen partner organizations and community groups. Shelldale is situated within the Onward Willow neighborhood.