Our volunteers are integral to the operation of Victoria Women’s Transition House Society and are active in programs and services, administration and governance.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• In-House Volunteers
• Crisis Line Volunteers
• Community Office Volunteers
• Special Service Volunteers
• Members of the Board

 

In-House Volunteer Program

In-House Volunteers support the Shelter, residents and staff. Although In-House Volunteers do not provide counselling for residents and do not always interact directly with the residents, the tasks the volunteers perform support the Shelter in many ways. Volunteers can choose the tasks they would like to help with. Some tasks include housework, cooking, childcare, or sorting donations.

In-House Volunteers at Transition House work one three-hour shift each week. It is preferable that this shift be at a regular time each week, however, we do our best to accommodate everyone’s schedule. We ask that each volunteer commit to at least 150 hours, which takes approximately one year to fulfill.

Crisis Line Volunteer Program

Each year our Crisis Lines receive over 2,000 client related calls. Crisis Line Volunteers are relied upon by the Shelter counselling staff to share in the answering of crisis and client related phone calls. These volunteers respond to calls from women requesting emergency shelter, women needing support and information, as well as people concerned about family and friends living in abusive relationships. These phone calls last anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour.

Crisis Line Volunteers are required to work one four hour shift each week, mostly weekdays and evenings. Each volunteer is asked to take a regular weekly shift. We ask that each volunteer commit to at least 200 hours, which takes approximately one year to fulfill.

Community Office Volunteers

Our Community Office is our contact with the community; a place where people pick up information, drop off donations and do business with our agency. It also houses the Children Who Witness Abuse Program, the Stopping the Violence Program (women’s counselling), and the Older Women’s Outreach / Safe Home Program, all of which provide individual and group counselling to community members who may or may not have accessed our shelter services.

Community Office volunteers work as receptionists at the office, answering calls, greeting people, answering questions and being, in many cases, the initial contact for the agency. These volunteers also provide basic administrative support to other office staff. Experience in an office environment is an asset.

Special Service Volunteers

Individuals with a specific interest or skill set to offer are always welcome to work with our volunteer coordinator to develop a unique and meaningful role to contribute to our organization.

Members of the Board

Our Board of Directors is comprised of up to 14 women. Each year the Board conducts a recruitment, interview and selection process to engage candidates for the Board. Board Members are elected at each Annual General Meeting in September and serve two-year terms.