Circles of Support and Accountability B.C.

CoSA (Circles of Support and Accountability) is a volunteer-driven, community-based program that enhances community safety by providing support and holding accountable sex offenders returning to his/her communities after incarceration. Recently, we have also integrated public education into our mandate. We believe that the first level of intervention in reducing sexual offences is educating on sexual abuse prevention through webinars and providing resources to the community.
CoSA B.C. has over 100 trained volunteers who provide leadership, mentoring, support and accountability to released sexual offenders (known as the Core Members or CMs), through weekly meetings, and assistance as required. We have a wide age range of volunteers, starting from late 20’s and including people from diverse ethno-cultural and faith/no-faith backgrounds. 
Over the past 21 years, CoSA B.C. has worked with over 250 sex offenders as they completed his/her sentences and sought to return to the community in a safe and crime-free way.  Our story is the story of reintegrating citizens and his/her volunteers.  However, our story is also the story of “no more victims”.

Volunteer duties:
-	Attending weekly meetings (circles) with a Core Member and up to 4 community volunteers
-	Supporting the CM and assisting the CM in making good decisions through mentorship and Circle discussions.
-	Offer relational and practical support to the CM with a focus on accountability to keep the community safe by emphasizing compliance with supervision, addressing risk factors, targeting criminal thinking patterns, challenging assumptions and helping the CM to form pro-social attitudes.
-	Help the CM by discussing the various challenges of re-entry into the community, such as securing housing, limited employment opportunities, health care, transportation, potential mental health concerns, substance abuse, etc.

Why should you volunteer for this opportunity?
•	CoSA volunteers help reduce a person’s likelihood of reoffending, thereby facilitating public safety. Statistically, high-risk sex offenders who participated in CoSA sexually reoffend 88% less than those without a CoSA Circle.
•	As a CoSA volunteer, you learn a great deal and build strong relationships. Volunteers grow individually and as a group while challenging the Core Member to become the best version of himself/herself.

“Each week, I look forward to meeting and talking with the volunteers in my Circle.  I know that I can talk to them about anything… They help me see things from different perspectives and gain better insights.  But, most importantly, they let me know that I’m not alone.  They’re here by my side.”
      -CoSA B.C. Core Member

“I feel that my commitment to CoSA is one of the most important things I do.  First of all, I believe in second chances and in being “there” when someone is reaching out for help… I’m thankful that I can be there for them by committing to attending our meetings, being a good listener, encouraging as they face many obstacles in finding accommodation and employment, helping them reintegrate back into society, deal with loneliness and caring enough to be available 24/7 by cell phone, all without judgment… Witnessing and celebrating each accomplishment and success a Core Member achieves reinforces my belief that CoSA is an integral part of them finding a new, right path in life.                                           
                         -CoSA B.C. Volunteer, Beverley