| Volunteer Services | |
| Christine Thomas - Coordinator
of Volunteer Services
Welcome to Volunteer Services at The Centre. Please read the following list of volunteer job descriptions which will help you decide what volunteer position might fit best for you. Volunteer Services Pamphlet! |
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| Out on the Shelves
Library is Canada’s largest Queer library, with close to 5,000 titles in the
collection. The Library is fully staffed by volunteers. Library volunteers train by way of
a mentoring system to ensure they are well versed in shift librarian duties. Duties
include: checking in/out material, shelving and shelf reading, performing material
searches on the library computer, selling Centre memberships, and tracking overdue books.
Some volunteers perform special tasks for the library, such as cataloging new items into
the collection (using the library of Congress system). The library committee, open to all
library volunteers, meets the first Wednesday night of every month to work on issues
related to the organization and operation of the library. Those interested in volunteering in the Library must
Do you want more information on the Library as a Centre Program?
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Prideline |
| The Prideline is The
Centre’s peer support/information referral phone line, staffed 7 evenings per week by
trained volunteers. All Prideline volunteers complete an 8 week training (1 evening per
week) which takes place approximately three times per year. The Prideline training covers
topics such as: communication skills, same sex domestic violence, suicide prevention,
Ethno-cultural diversity and immigration/refugee issues, Transgender issues, youth issues,
safer sex, and resources/referrals. The aim is to have well informed, supportive,
non-judgmental volunteers staffing the Prideline. Prideline shifts are doubly staffed to
ensure Prideline volunteers are have support and can offer quality peer support services
to both callers and walk-ins. Those interested in volunteering on the Prideline must
If you are interested in Prideline volunteers work download a Volunteer Application Package Information Do you want more information about the Prideline as a Centre Program?
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Reception Services |
| The Centre’s Reception
Services is a key Centre program fully staffed by volunteers. Volunteers complete a 3 hour
orientation training for reception and mentor on with a veteran receptionist for two
shifts. Volunteering in reception includes dealing with incoming calls and walk-ins,
distributing messages to staff and other volunteers, providing information and referrals
to patrons, scheduling appointments for services such as counselling and the legal clinic,
and performing office support duties for staff such as faxing and photocopying. Reception
volunteers also provide some peer support to those who call or walk-in if necessary, with
the aim of referring the person to appropriate services. Those interested in volunteering in Reception Services must
In addition, the receptionist is responsible for creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in the reception and lounge areas. If you are interested in Centre Reception work download a Volunteer Application Package Information Do you want more information on the Reception as a Centre Program?
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Gab Youth Services |
| Gab Youth Services offers
drop-ins, support, and events for lesbian, gay, transgendered, bisexual, questioning youth
and their allies. Volunteers can be involved with Gab by helping to facilitate drop-ins.
Gab also puts on special events and projects which may require volunteer involvement, such
as field trips and dances. Those interested in Gab volunteer work must
If you are interested in volunteering for Gab download a Volunteer Application Package Information Do you want more information on Gab Youth Services as a Centre program?
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Group Work |
| Centre groups generally function
as peer support groups and are facilitated by volunteers. Each group always has two
volunteer facilitators to ensure safety and support for group members. The Centre has
offered a variety of groups, some short term and some ongoing. Current examples are our
men and women’s 8 week coming out groups and our a women’s ongoing drop-in
group. Applicants interested being facilitators in peer support groups must
If you are interested in volunteering to facilitate a peer support group download a Volunteer Application Package Information Do you want more information on peer support groups as a Centre Service?
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Workshops |
| The Centre has offered a variety
of workshops in the past, some of which have been facilitated by Centre volunteers. There
have been volunteer facilitated workshops offered on Queer Body Image, Clearing The
Clutter (organizational skills), a Diversity Panel and a series of journal writing
workshops. If you have an idea for a workshop and the skills and experience to make it happen, attach a proposal to your Volunteer Application Package Information!!
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Practicum Students |
| The Centre accepts practicum
students from private counselling colleges as well as from social service or counselling
related departments at community colleges and universities. The Centre has accepted
practicum students from U.B.C., Erickson College, Counsellor Training Institute of Canada,
and The Vancouver Art Therapy Institute in the past. Practicum students have been involved
in organizing and facilitating groups, doing one-on-one and couple counselling, and
performing generalist social work duties. We aim to provide a supportive and educational practicum for students while providing a professional and supportive service to the lesbian, gay, transgendered, bisexual communities, and allies. Therefore we seek practicum students who have a knowledge of, and sensitivity to, the LGTB communities. The Centre does not have a clinical counsellor on site, but we do provide supportive supervision for practicums. There are a number of staff on site with Masters level degrees in the social service and educational fields. The Centre is also interested in taking students on practicum that fall outside of the social service fields. We welcome applications from practicum students in the following areas of study: library related studies, women’s studies, office support programs, computer related programs. If you are interested in doing your practicum at The Centre, contact Volunteer Coordinator at 604 685-7589 or email volunteerservices
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Computer Work |
| The Centre
utilizes the services of volunteers for a variety of computer related work. Volunteers
generally work compiling and inputting statistical data for Centre programs, or updating
and maintaining the volunteer information data base. There are also possibilities for work
on posters and the volunteer newsletter. If you are interested in volunteering for computer related work download a Volunteer Application Package Information
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Special Events & Projects |
| There are a variety of volunteer
driven special events and projects that take place at The Centre. Some examples are: the
Pride Day float building committee; information tables at various events around Vancouver;
workshops and conferences put on by The Centre’s Education & Outreach Services;
ongoing renovations and repairs at The Centre; The Centre’s volunteer newsletter; and
more. Being involved as a special events volunteer provides a valuable service to the community, as well as allowing you lots of flexibility and a varied volunteer experience. If you are interested in volunteering for special events at The Centre download a Volunteer Application Package Information
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Body Work |
| The Centre offers a variety of
volunteer appreciation activities to it’s volunteers. One popular volunteer
appreciation service has been non-intrusive body work. Reiki, reflexology, and healing
touch are three practices The Centre has offered volunteers on a weekly basis. Generally,
a body work volunteer would offer 1/2 hour sessions to other volunteer once per week. An applicant interested in doing volunteer appreciation body work at The Centre must
If you are interested in volunteering to do body work at The Centre download a Volunteer Application Package Information
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