Volunteers are a vital part of the Community Living Kawartha Lakes team. Currently over 50 volunteers help to support individuals and families through our association.
Read our 2008 Volunteer Spotlights
What would you like to know about volunteering with Community Living Kawartha Lakes?
Volunteer Opportunities
Have you been looking for an opportunity to get involved in your community, to gain valuable skills, to help someone who needs you and also meet wonderful people? If you have, then why not volunteer at Community Living Kawartha Lakes? Below is a quick list of the volunteer opportunities available with us. What would you like to do?
- Cooking Class Volunteer (Lindsay)
Share your culinary talents with us. Opportunities for cooking class volunteers are available on various days.
- Friendly Visitor (Lindsay)
Be a friend to someone who is intellectually challenged. Do what you both enjoy - take a walk, go out for coffee or just visit.
- Job Coach (Lindsay)
Support a person working in a job placement. Opportunities are available various days and times.
- Learning Centre Coach (Fenelon Falls)
Assist our literacy and life skills class at the Community Living Learning Centre on Wednesdays.
- Leisure Pal (City of Kawartha Lakes)
Spend time with someone just being a friend.
- Swimming Class Assistant (Lindsay)
Help out with swimming classes on Thursdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
- Teen Support Volunteer
Earn your community service hours for school while having fun, helping out and gaining leadership skills. Teens on the Go! is a recreation and leisure group for teens and young adults with intellectual challenges. We are looking for teen volunteers to help us to organize and take part in social, community and recreational activities. For more information about Teens on the Go!, click here.
- Volunteer Driver (City of Kawartha Lakes)
Provide rides for the people we support. Help is needed for various times between 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information about how you can help as a volunteer, please email us or call (705) 328-0464.
Volunteer Application
We welcome you to apply to volunteer right now by completing our on-line Volunteer Application Form. Simply fill in the blanks on the form and then click on the SEND VOLUNTEER APPLICATION button. We will receive your application and get in touch with you about how we can work together.
Volunteer Bill of Rights
Community Living Kawartha Lakes volunteers have:
- The right to be treated as a co-worker (not just 'free help').
- The right to a suitable assignment (with consideration of personal preferences, temperament, life experience, education, employment background and availability).
- The right to know about Community Living Kawartha Lakes (its policies, its people, its programs).
- The right to be prepared for the job (a follow-up to initial orientation; information about new developments; training for greater responsibility).
- The right to sound guidance and direction by someone who is experienced, patient, well-informed and thoughtful, and has the time to invest in giving guidance.
- The right to promotion and to a variety of experiences (through advancement; through transfer from one activity to another; through special assignments).
- The right to be heard, to feel free to make suggestions and to have an honest opinion respected.
Volunteer FAQs
What type of volunteer work is available with Community Living Kawartha Lakes?
How do I become a volunteer?
Once I start, how do I know what to do?
Do volunteers have to do any paperwork?
What do I do if there is an emergency or I have a complaint while I am working as a volunteer?
What are my rights as a volunteer?
What is Volunteer Week?
What type of volunteer work is available with Community Living Kawartha Lakes?
Volunteers are considered team members and work with staff to fulfill our agency mission. Volunteers can represent Community Living Kawartha Lakes as members of our Board of Directors and related Committees. They can also provide office support or assistance with special events, such as our Annual General Meeting, Skate-A-Thon and Community Living Month celebrations.
Volunteers play a vital role providing assistance to the individuals we support. Click here for more information about these unique opportunities.
How do I become a volunteer?
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer must complete a Volunteer Application and meet with the Volunteer Coordinator for a screening interview.
Applicants must also provide a Criminal Records Check from a local law enforcement agency and two references (not family members).
New volunteers must participate in orientation and training, and sign a statement of confidentiality before they begin their new positions. By signing a statement of confidentiality, volunteers declare that they will keep confidential all information involving staff, other volunteers, the people we support and the business of Community Living Kawartha Lakes.
These requirements have been put into place both to protect the people we support and to ensure the best possible volunteer experience for our applicants.
Once I start, how will I know what to do?
New volunteers must participate in orientation and training before they begin their work with Community Living Kawartha Lakes. The orientation provides you with information about our association, our mission and our services. The training is specific to the position that you have chosen and is designed to help you to feel confident and informed as you start your work with us. Each participant also receives a Volunteer Handbook, which covers relevant information, policies and procedures for volunteers.
In addition to orientation and training, we provide a job description to each volunteer. The job description includes your volunteer responsibilities, the name of your staff supervisor (who is available to offer consultation, support and direction) and other related information. Each volunteer position is sufficiently flexible to allow the best fit with the applicant's talents, skills, knowledge and limitations.
Do volunteers have to do any paperwork?
Volunteers submit a monthly report of their hours and activity to their Supervisor. This report can be submitted in writing, by phone or by email.
What do I do if there is an emergency or I have a complaint while I am working as a volunteer?
We have policies and procedures in place for taking precautions, handling emergencies and making complaints. These are covered during orientation and training and are included in our Volunteer Handbook. Your supervisor is also available to offer support, assistance and consultation.
What are my rights as a volunteer?
Community Living Kawartha Lakes has a Volunteer Bill of Rights. Read it here.
What is Volunteer Week?
National Volunteer Week is an annual celebration of the spirit and energy of Canada's 6.5 million volunteers. National Volunteer Week also provides an opportunity to thank the people who help to shape the experiences of volunteers.
In communities across Canada, many of the 180,000 not-for-profit organizations that make up Canada's voluntary sector - like Community Living Kawartha Lakes - set aside National Volunteer Week as a time to hold events that recognize, honour and celebrate volunteers. Corporations also increasingly recognize national Volunteer Week - as they celebrate the volunteer efforts of employees - and by provincial and municipal governments across the country.
National Volunteer Week began in 1943 as a means to honour the contributions of women during World War II. In the late 1960s Volunteer Week was changed to include all volunteers from every sector. In 1990 Canadians began the annual celebration of National Volunteer Week during the third week of April.
National Volunteer Week is a project of the Canada Volunteerism Initiative funded by the Government of Canada through the Community Partnerships Program of Canadian Heritage.
National Volunteer Week dates over the coming years are:
2008 - April 27 to May 3
2009 - April 19 to 25
2010 - April 18 to 24
