Community Safety
Strengthening resiliency for Surrey residents through targeted programming and collaborative processes.
SAFE Centre: where it all happens
The SAFE Centre is where Community Safety programs and processes are implemented, administered and governed. It is most known for its use as a collaboration hub where community partners meet to coordinate and deliver services.
Since 2019, the SAFE Centre has welcomed over 15,000 visitors and supported more than 1300 meetings, trainings, workshops, focus groups, special events and other community safety enhancing activities.
The centre is not open to the public.
Programs
Explore a range of programs that support neighbourhood-specific, gender-diverse and culturally sensitive services.
Prevention programs
Prevention programs reduce risk, strengthen resiliency, and help residents handle life’s challenges.
Black Youth Enterprise
Supporting vulnerable Black youth to build a sense of belonging through life skills programming.
Solid State Community Industries provides adult mentors to support marginalized and migrant Black youth. Youth agree to take part in the program before joining or creating co-operative enterprises.
“Co-operative enterprises” are businesses that groups of Black youth operate to learn valuable life skills and expand positive peer groups. They provide education to the community and may even generate income.
Black Youth Enterprise activities are expected to increase resiliency and strengthen client connection with positive peers and the community.
Location
Supports Black youth throughout Surrey but operates primarily within City Centre.
Contact
Supported by
Club Utopia
Supporting vulnerable South Asian female youth and their caregivers with education and counselling.
Pacific Community Resources Society provides two workers that support one-on-one counselling and group education for South Asian female youth and their caregivers. Clients agree to program participation before receiving support.
Youth and caregivers are separated into groups which learn together for six months. Youth are educated about the dangers of gang life and supported to avoid negative influences. Caregivers learn about risks for joining gangs and general skills for successful parenting. During each six-month period, the youth and caregiver groups come together to celebrate their achievements. One-on-one counselling is also available for youth and caregivers.
Club Utopia activities are expected to increase resiliency and confidence as well as strengthen family relationships.
Location
One-on-one services available throughout Surrey. Groupwork takes place in Surrey’s Newton and Guildford town centres.
Contact
604-587-8100
ccyh@pcrs.ca
Supported by
Family & Peer Connection
Surrey Schools operates the Family and Peer Connection program.
Surrey Schools staff and contracted Registered Clinical Counsellors support vulnerable students and their families with peer mentorship, counselling, classroom presentations, and community engagement activities. Altogether, these programs aim to enhance youth resiliency by addressing diverse needs and fostering connection to school, family, positive peers and community.
Location
Services are provided at school sites during and outside of school hours with activities primarily taking place September to June.
Contact
Manager, Safe Schools Department: 778-772-3863
Project IRIS
Support community safety in Surrey by registering your external security camera with Project IRIS and help provide potential evidence if an incident occurs in your area.
Project IRIS (Integrated Resources for Investigations and Safety) is the City’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera registry. Project IRIS is a database that lists the location of external security cameras owned by residents and businesses in Surrey to help police solve crimes and aid in important investigations.
If you have a security camera outside of your home or business, you can register your camera.
- Registration is voluntary and easy.
- All information is confidential and secure.
- You can withdraw from the program at any time.
“It’s a great way for neighbours to help neighbours. An incident could occur in the neighbourhood, and a collection of footage could help solve the incident”. – Chasen, Surrey resident
Find out more about Project IRIS
Risk Prevention Team
Supporting vulnerable children and youth with culturally-sensitive mentorship and counselling.
Options Community Services provides a youth worker and counsellor to support at-risk 5 to 18-year-olds and their families. Before receiving help, young people and their caregivers agree to be part of the program.
Clients share personal needs with their workers who help them set goals and develop ways to achieve them. The outreach worker meets with children and youth in the community. They help them get involved in recreational activities, learn important life skills, and support them to leave negative relationships. The clinical counsellor helps young people and their family members to overcome personal challenges and strengthen family bonds.
Risk Prevention Team activities are expected to increase resiliency and strengthen client connection with family, culture, and community.
Location
Operates primarily within Surrey’s Newton and Guildford town centres.
Contact
(604) 596-4321
youthservices.intake@options.bc.ca
Supported by
Skookum Windspeaker
Supporting Indigenous children and youth with cultural activities and spiritual learning.
The Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC) and Surrey School District provide cultural activities for Indigenous students in grades six to nine. Children and youth agree to program involvement before participating in monthly day trips that take place inside and outside of Surrey during the school year. Community cultural events targeting Indigenous families are also supported during and outside of the school year.
Skookum Windspeaker activities are expected to increase resiliency and strengthen cultural identity and community connection.
Location
In the community during and outside of school hours.
Contact
Supported by
Yo4Youth
Supporting vulnerable middle years aged children with after school mentorship and recreation.
Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative provides after school programming for middle years aged children at five Surrey School District sites. Schools are selected based on increased vulnerability. Program staff work with school staff to identify children who are willing to participate and could benefit the most.
Each week, adult mentors lead recreational and mentorship activities that build trust, self-confidence, and positive friendships.
Yo4Youth activities are expected to increase resiliency, self-confidence and sense of belonging for each participant.
Location
Select Surrey schools.
Contact
Supported by
Youth Hub for Cooperative Enterprise
Solid State Community Society operates the Youth Hub for Co-operative Enterprise.
Solid State staff support racialized and newcomer youth to implement co-operative enterprises (democratically run businesses) thereby developing life skills and enhancing a sense of belonging with like-minded youth. Services include personalized mentorship, business planning and financial literacy support, access to facilities, and culturally appropriate meals.
Location
Services may be provided up to seven days a week at the Youth Hub for Co-operative Enterprise (10326 Whalley Boulevard, Surrey).
Contact
Solid State Co-Directors: matt@solidstate.coop | jshandeep@solidstate.coop
Intervention programs
Intervention programs address risk, build positive life skills, and strengthen connections with school, family, and community.
Blueprint Pathways
Supporting vulnerable youth with one-on-one mentorship and counselling.
City of Surrey provides a youth counsellor to meet with 13 to 19-year-olds in schools and the community. Youth agree to participate in the program before receiving individualized support including setting goals and developing actions to meet them.
Activities include connecting youth to recreational, volunteer, and employment opportunities, assisting youth to leave negative relationships, reducing barriers such as transportation that affect school and appointment attendance, and referring youth to additional services.
Blueprint Pathways activities are expected to increase resiliency and strengthen client connection with school, family, and community.
Contact
Supported by
Collection Notice
The City of Surrey is authorized to collect personal information under the authority of section 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Personal Information is collected for the purpose of allowing you to participate in the Blueprint Pathways program. For questions regarding the collection of personal information, please contact the City's Community Safety Manager, 13450 104 Ave, Surrey BC, V3T 1V8, or call 236-598-3019
CHART School Response
Coordinating prevention and intervention services to support vulnerable children, youth, and families.
Surrey School District provides two workers to support staff from over 130 schools to identify students aged 6 to 19 who need multiple community services. These staff attend the weekly Children and Youth At-Risk Table (CHART) meetings where they work with professionals from other agencies to develop individualized support plans for each young person. Outside of the CHART meetings, staff make sure that services are being delivered to each child, youth, and family.
CHART School Response activities are expected to increase resiliency and strengthen connection with school, family, and community.
Location
Support provided on school sites and in the community during and outside of school hours.
Contact
safe-chart@surreyschools.ca
Supported by
Family & Youth Resource Support Team
Surrey RCMP operates the Family and Youth Resource Support Team (FYRST).
FYRST staff include two counsellors paired with a police officer to provide intervention and mentorship opportunities for children in grades 5 to 7. The program aims to reduce risky behaviour, increase healthy peer relationships, improve positive decision-making, and strengthen attachment to family, school, and community.
Location
Services are provided Monday to Friday at school sites and in the community including home visits.
Contact
Surrey RCMP Parent Helpline: 604-599-7800
Female Gang Intervention
Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS) operates the Female Gang Intervention program.
PCRS staff provide individualized support to females aged 12 to 19 who are currently involved in gangs or at risk for criminal exploitation. Through one-to-one outreach, participants receive mentorship and are supported with accessing counselling, employment services, and housing support with the aim of enhancing self-confidence, emotional well-being, positive relationships, and overall resiliency.
Location
Services are provided Monday to Friday at PCRS sites and in the community.
Contact
ccyh@pcrs.ca | 604-587-8100
Focus
Supporting vulnerable youth with life skills support and access to trauma counselling.
Dan’s Legacy Foundation provides a social worker to meet youth in the community. Priority is given to Indigenous youth as well as those soon to enter adulthood. Youth agree to participating in the program before receiving support.
Youth share personal needs with their worker who helps them set goals and develop ways to achieve them. The program offers activities such as counselling and learning important life skills that will support them as adults. Indigenous youth are also able to participate in cultural workshops led by Elders.
Focus activities are expected to increase resiliency and strengthen client connection with family, culture, and community.
Location
Delivered in the community across multiple Surrey locations.
Contact
Supported by
Intercultural Family Intervention
Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) operates the Intercultural Family Intervention program.
Program staff deliver personalized mentorship, counselling, education and employment support to children, youth, and families from immigrant and refugee backgrounds. By providing positive role models and promoting general well-being, the program aims to enhance youth resilience and mitigate risks.
Location
Services are provided year-round Monday to Friday at various community locations during and after school hours.
Contact
SAFE 2.0 Clinical Counselling (DIVERSEcity)
DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society provides the SAFE 2.0 Clinical Counselling program.
Registered Clinical Counsellors provide one-to-one and family counselling as well as group workshops targeting Surrey children, youth, and caregivers. Services are designed to be culturally sensitive and offered in a variety of languages to meet the unique needs of diverse Surrey residents.
Location
Services are supported Monday to Friday primarily through DIVERSEcity’s Community Campus as well as school and community sites.
Contact
counsellingservices@dcrs.ca | 604-547-1202
SAFE Community Clinical Counselling (SFU)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) provides the SAFE Community Clinical Counselling program.
Master’s in Counselling Psychology students provide one-to-one and family counselling for Surrey children, youth, and caregivers. Counselling sessions are designed to address challenges and reduce risk while enhancing empowerment, resilience, and overall mental health for participants.
Location
Services are provided Monday to Friday at SFU Surrey’s Community Counselling Clinic.
Contact
Youth & Family Intervention Program
Options Community Services provides the Youth and Family Intervention Program.
A team of four professionals provide outreach-based mentorship and clinical counselling support for children and youth aged 6 to 19 as well as their caregivers. Residents from Surrey’s Newton and Guildford town centres are the primary target population for this program. Services are designed to be culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and client-centered services and are offered in one-to-one and group formats.
Location
Services are delivered Monday to Friday at school and community sites including home visits.
Contact
youthservices.intake@options.bc.ca | 604-596-4321
Process
Learn about our collaborative approach to strengthening resiliency for Surrey residents.
Children & Youth At-Risk Table (CHART)
CHART involves professionals from various organizations meeting weekly to implement multi-agency support plans for 6 to 19-year-old residents and their families.
Prioritizing privacy
The City’s oversight of CHART is guided by a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) which requires that:
-
each partner organization signs a Common or Integrated Program Agreement (CIPA);
-
each partner organization staff representative signs a Non-Disclosure Agreement;
-
the same structured process is consistently applied at each CHART meeting; and
-
only de-identified information is recorded and shared.
Over 70% of referrals accepted to CHART are consensual. Personal information of non-consenting individuals can be shared if table partners agree that ‘acutely elevated risk’ exists and there is a likelihood for harm if no intervention occurs.
Structured process
1. Chair conducts attendance and determines referrals to be discussed.
2. Chair directs discussion of referrals:
- New non-consent referrals: Referring partner shares young person’s age, gender, and risk factors. Table determines if acutely elevated risk (AER) is present. If no, referral is rejected. If yes, referral is assigned a case number and identity of young person is shared.
- New consent referrals: Referring partner shares young person’s name, age, gender, and risk factors. Table determines need for multi-agency support. If services of two or more agencies are required, referral is assigned a case number.
3. One lead agency and one or more supporting agencies are assigned to provide services to the young person and their family if applicable.
CHART dashboard
For each accepted referral, de-identified information such as age, gender, neighbourhood, and up to 100 risk factors is tracked and rolled up in the CHART Dashboard.
CHART partner agencies
Surrey Mobilization & Resiliency Table (SMART)
SMART involves professionals from various organizations meeting weekly to implement multi-agency support plans for adult residents and their families.
Prioritizing privacy
The City’s oversight of SMART is guided by its Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) which requires that:
-
each partner organization signs a Common or Integrated Program Agreement (CIPA);
-
each partner organization staff representative signs a Non-Disclosure Agreement;
-
the same structured process is consistently applied at each SMART meeting; and
-
only de-identified information is recorded and shared.
Personal information of non-consenting individuals can be shared if table partners agree that ‘acutely elevated risk’ exists and there is a likelihood for harm if no intervention occurs.
Structured process
1. Chair conducts attendance and determines referrals to be discussed.
2. Chair directs discussion of referrals.
- New non-consent referrals: Referring partner shares person’s age, gender, and risk factors. Table determines if acutely elevated risk (AER) is present. If no, referral is rejected. If yes, referral is assigned a case number and identity of person is shared.
- New consent referrals: Referring partner shares person’s name, age, gender, and risk factors. Table determines need for multi-agency support. If services of two or more agencies are required, referral is assigned a case number.
3. One lead agency and one or more supporting agencies are assigned to provide services.
SMART dashboard
For each accepted referral, de-identified information such as age, gender, neighbourhood, and up to 105 risk factors is tracked and rolled up in the dashboard.
SMART partner agencies
Contact us
These services are supported by the Community Safety team, a section of the Housing and Social Development division, one of four divisions comprising the Social Infrastructure and Community Investments department.
For general inquiries about services supported by Community Safety, contact communitysafety@surrey.ca.