We are very excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of one of the most impactful programs that Vancouver Police Foundation has ever funded! Congratulations to the Women’s Personal Safety Team (WPST) got it’s and its ongoing commitment to empowering women from all walks of life.
The Women’s Personal Safety Team is 100% volunteer-supported by nearly 30 exceptional female VPD members and has grown to support and empower more than 10,000 women across BC and the world. The purpose of this initiative is to educate, inspire, and empower women to take ownership of their personal safety. Through both in-person and virtual workshops, this incredible two-hour program teaches concepts and tactics designed to be easily learned and remembered by women with no prior training in case they are ever faced with a situation of unavoidable violence.
“Realizing that there was such an interest and need for this information by women, I felt compelled to find a way to help,” explains co-founder, VPD Inspector Colleen Yee. “I took a very basic program that I premiered at a VPD safety fair, and developed a comprehensive self-protection program that we named the VPD Women’s Personal Safety Team.”
Since it launched in 2013, the Vancouver Police Foundation has committed more than $185,000 to the Women’s Personal Safety Team thanks to generous support from our donors. Its positive impact on girls and women in Vancouver and beyond is both immediate, important and immense.
The Vancouver Police Foundation supports programs and initiatives that fall within three streams: community outreach and engagement (including programs for women, youth and seniors); public and personal safety; and specialized equipment and technology. You can help make Vancouver safer for all by donating to the Vancouver Police Foundation.
