Are you a teenager ready to start volunteering? Or a parent looking for opportunities for their child? If so then volunteer centres can help! Volunteering can be a great way to develop skills, gain confidence, and make lifelong connections. Whether you need volunteer hours, sector experience, or are wanting to help your community, you’ll be able to find your perfect position by following these simple steps.
1. Start with your Local Volunteering Centre
Volunteer Centres are the number one asset for you when looking for volunteer positions. Centres are focused on promoting volunteering in the community and offer lots of resources and up-to-date local volunteer opportunities. Each Volunteer Centre is unique to its community. They host volunteer fairs, volunteer training and listings of volunteer roles that you can look through to find something you are interested in.
To find your local Volunteer Centre check Volunteer BC’s Volunteer Centre Network (volunteerbc.bc.ca/volunteer-centre-network).
2. Volunteering BC’s Volunteer Now
Volunteer Now (volunteerbc.bc.ca/volunteer-now) is your one-stop shop for volunteering. With the help of this platform, you can search and apply for multiple positions all in one place.
Volunteer Now is maintained by Volunteer BC and is completely free for volunteers. Simply make an account. You will be able to browse local positions to find the best one for your needs.
If you do not have a local Volunteer Centre you can check out other online volunteer posting boards. Volunteer Connector (volunteerconnector.org), Charity Village (charityvillage.com), or Craigslist (geo.craigslist.org/iso/ca). Schools, colleges and universities often have volunteer posting boards that post positions perfect for ‘tweens, teens and everyone else.
The Pan-Canadian Volunteer Matching Platform (volunteer.ca) works in collaboration with Volunteer Centres nationwide in order to provide over 75,000 volunteer opportunities. We encourage you to reach out to organizations you like directly to see if they have any open positions that might not have been posted.
4. Check out Volunteer BC’s Online Training and Resources
Volunteer BC also offers access to a training and workshop calendar. The website is updated daily with new opportunities which are also posted on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, making it easy for you to check for new positions from members.
Volunteer BC’s training calendar shows month-by-month opportunities updated as soon as new sessions become available and links to Volunteer Now so you can easily apply. This training will allow you to learn more about volunteering and the non-profit sector and help prepare to for future volunteer opportunities.
Want even more detailed info on volunteering? Download the detailed I Want to Volunteer handbook. This interactive pdf is a step-by-step guide on how to go about finding that perfect volunteer position.
5. Volunteer BC Memberships
A Volunteer BC Individual Membership is another great way to help you get involved with volunteering. As a member, you will receive the member’s only newsletter with monthly updates on volunteer centres, as well as new and upcoming positions. A membership is a great way to show support to Volunteer BC and receive amazing benefits that will help you on your journey to being your best volunteering self.
By starting to volunteer, you will be able to make a difference in your community, learn new skills, and feel good by doing something good. By following these simple steps you’ll be able to find the best volunteer position for anything you need. Good luck to you and your future volunteer endeavours! Together we can make a difference.
For more information, contact your local Volunteer Centre or visit volunteerbc.bc.ca.
