The Rural Women’s Support Program

The Rural Women’s Support Program works to prevent all forms of woman abuse and sexual violence and inequality. We offer support to survivors and their friends and families. We can provide support in person or on the phone.

The Rural Women’s Support Program provides free support services to women 16 years of age and older who have experienced emotional, sexual, physical, verbal and/or financial abuse. We provide individual and group counselling. We are a non-residential program (we are not a shelter), but we can connect a woman and her children to Marianne’s Place Shelter if they need a safe place to stay.

We support women who are living in Wellington County. We have offices in:

• Erin
• Fergus
• Mount Forest
• Palmerston

If you are unable to come into our office for an appointment, we can speak to you on the phone or we can meet you in a mutually agreed upon location (not at home). Transportation may also be able to be arranged.

Individual counselling and groups are offered to women who have been or are in an abusive relationship and to women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault or harassment or stalking. Want to know more about the different kinds of abuse? Click here for more information.

Transportation may be arranged if needed as well as accompaniment to police, court, hospital, lawyer’s appointments and the shelter.

Advocacy and referrals to other community agencies are provided as well as housing, legal, financial and custody information. Public education is available upon request.

Our Services: (free)

• Immediate telephone support and information through our 24 hour crisis lines
• Long-term individual counselling and support
• Group counselling
• Connection to Marianne's Place shelter
• Safety planning
• Transportation and/or accompaniment to court, police, hospital, shelter and rural services
• Transportation and/or childcare may be provided if needed during counselling or group
• Advocacy, support for criminal injuries compensation, victim impact statements, restraining orders, custody
• Education and training on all issues related to women abuse or sexual violence
• Information and referrals to other community agencies and support if requested
• Information about sexual assault, incest, sexual harassment, stalking, domestic violence, medical and legal procedures and options
• Client library and resource materials available
• Practical assistance
• Sexual harrassment support and information
• Assessment, implementation and ongoing support for the Domestic Violence Emergency Response System (DVERS)
• Support and information for family, partners, and friends of survivors
• Public Education Presentations (with LINK to information about Public Education Program)

Volunteering for the Rural Women’s Support Program

Want to get involved in your community and make a difference? We are always looking for volunteers for our programs and offices in Wellington County. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our Volunteer Section and contact our Volunteer Coordinator. There is a variety of positions available and training is provided.

How to Contact the Rural Women’s Support Program:

Call one of our offices listed below or try our

24 Hour Crisis Line: 519-836-5710 or 1-800-265-7233

Monday to Friday – 9:00 am -5:00 pm
Some Evening Groups available
Crisis Lines – 24 Hours