Our volunteers are integral to the operation of Victoria Women’s Transition House Society (VWTH) and are active in programs and services, administration and governance. Please review the volunteer opportunities available at VWTH to see if you would like to donate your time and talents to support women and children impacted by intimate partner violence.
Become a Volunteer
What we look for in great volunteers …
- Interested in contributing meaningfully to your community
- Demonstrates a mature and non-judgmental attitude towards others
- Able to manage in an emotionally challenging environment with the support of a team
- Be comfortable working with women from different backgrounds
- Respect women’s rights regarding life choices
Please note that if you have been in an abusive relationship yourself, we request that you be out of this relationship for at least two years and have undergone personal counselling which focused on your abusive relationship.
Does this sound like you? Please fill out our general volunteer application form.
Volunteer opportunities include:
- In-House Volunteers
- Crisis Line Volunteers
- Donation Driving Volunteers
- Connection Volunteers
- Special Service Volunteers
- Members of the Board
- Events & Booth Volunteers
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. Some tasks include housework, cooking, or sorting donations.
Crisis Line Volunteer Program
Volunteers who have completed a minimum of 30 hours of volunteering with VWTH are eligible to be considered for Crisis Line training.
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 intimate partner violence relationships. These phone calls last anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour.
The comprehensive Crisis Line training involves attending five sessions that cover various topics such as Active Listening, Safety Planning, Family Law Issues and the Criminal Justice System. In addition to the in-depth information provided, volunteers learn by participating in numerous role-plays so they are prepared to deal with a wide range of calls on our Crisis Line.
We ask that each volunteer commit to at least 150 hours, which takes approximately one year to fulfill.
Donation Driving Volunteers
Volunteers who have completed volunteer training, have a valid driver’s license, a clean driver’s abstract, access to a car and can lift 50+ pounds can help us with donation pick-ups and drop-offs. Donations volunteers will pick up and drop off from the same pick-up location and drop-off location each shift. Donation pick up locations are commonly the Community Office, Food Share Network, local business and local non-profits. Volunteers will never pick-up donations from a private residence. Donation drop-off locations will be the Shelter, Second Stage Housing or Third Stage Housing. Aside from the Community Office, Victoria Women’s Transition House locations are kept confidential, so volunteers will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to taking on the role.
Connection Volunteers
Connection volunteers assist our Outreach Program team in facilitating a safe and welcoming space to all, assisting with room set-up and clean up, offering snacks and other duties for a wide range of groups. These groups provide clients with an opportunity to connect with peers and do self-care activities. Groups are typically art-based or fitness- based but can span a wide range of activities.
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 of Directors
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. 2025 Board recruitment now open.
More information is available HERE
Events / Booth Volunteers
You are a friendly, knowledgeable individual who enjoys talking passionately to the public about the Victoria Women’s Transition House – our programs and services. We need volunteers to periodically host VWTH info tables/booths at local events and conferences, to distribute information on VWTH and to listen to public inquiries and respond appropriately. You are comfortable speaking one-on-one and in small groups and are able to stand for periods of time.
