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Be A Mentor

You can be:

  • An adult mentor (volunteers ages +18)
  • A peer mentor (volunteers ages 16 or 17)
  • A family mentor (volunteers couple or family group)

Why Volunteer?

  • meeting new people (with common interests in youth and in activities such as sports or hobbies)
  • learning new personal and career-related skills (communication, problem-solving, interpersonal relations)
  • documented volunteer hours in preparation for post-secondary education
  • sense of contributing to the community
  • sense of fulfillment by making a difference in the life of a child
  • access to training/ workshops (orientation, child sexual assault, and more)
  • caseworker support regarding personal matters/ problems if needed
  • exposure to family situations and experiences which may differ from those previously experienced, therefore increasing awareness/appreciation of diversity
  • in case of family/ couple match, an opportunity to volunteer with own family members

Getting Started – What You’ll Need

No screening process can guarantee an individual’s performance nor can it predict future decisions an individual may make. Still, all screening components play a valuable role in providing information about the individual, which may be helpful in determining their suitability and readiness to be a Volunteer Sidekick and also the resources, skills and abilities they bring to role.

After You’ve Started

Matches are chosen based on interests and needs of both the child and the volunteer, not on a 1st come/1st served basis

  • A meeting is arranged between potential match partners to determine compatibility
  • You and your match can plan and participate in activities together

Evaluating your match

  • Online Surveys completed by volunteers, verbal reports by the volunteer, parent(s) and child every 3 months.
  • Contact initiated by Caseworker, clients or volunteers if match is new or experiencing difficulty.
  • Outcome measurement conducted on a regular basis. Outcome measurement instruments have been designed to identify the needs of clients/volunteers and measure the delivery of services they receive.

More Information