Volunteer your time
PLEASE NOTE: we are are currently recruiting Volunteer Drivers. If this role is of interest to you, please contact Volunteer Services.
Volunteers have always played an important role in the services of the Durham Children’s Aid Society.
The goal of our voluntary services is to assist children, youth and families in the areas of health, well-being, education and stability; and to assist in building support networks for families in their community.
By assisting in building bridges between our clients and the community, our volunteer services complement and enhance the services provided by our staff. Volunteers build on the strengths of individuals through role modeling and teaching new skills to promote self-esteem, trust, positive relationships, independence, academic success and community connections.
Who are our volunteers?
Volunteers are individuals who are 18 years of age and over, and who live or work in Durham Region. Volunteers are highly committed individuals who are able to work within a challenging and highly structured environment as part of a team. They are willing to take direction, while also being able to manage a high-degree of responsibility and independent decision-making.
We welcome volunteers from all racial, ethnic, social, economic, linguistic, religious backgrounds and sexual orientations.
Volunteers are selected to meet the needs of the Society. All volunteers are required to make a minimum one year commitment.
Volunteer screening
Volunteers at Durham CAS are afforded a great deal of responsibility and trust.
It is our duty to ensure that those who become volunteers are respectful, responsible, reliable, caring, supportive and trustworthy individuals who can share their strengths in support of the children, youth and families we serve. Therefore there are a several important steps in the application and screening process:
- Volunteers must be 18 years or older
- Volunteers must live or work in the Durham Region
- Applicants will attend an information session in a group or individually
- Applicants will complete an application form
- An internal Society Records check will be completed to determine any Society involvement
- Applicants will provide the names of three references, and references will be deemed favourable
- Applicants will provide a Criminal Records Check with Vulnerable Sector screening
- Applicants will provide proof of a valid driver’s license and a favorable driver’s abstract if an assignment involves transporting children/youth (All volunteer drivers and mentors must possess a full class-G license)
- Applicants will be interviewed by the Coordinator of Volunteer Services to determine their suitability as a volunteer.
- Applicants will provide a Release of Information to contact other Children’s Aid Societies when there has been involvement or if they have resided outside of the Region for the last ten years.
- Applicants will attend and complete New Volunteer Training
- Applicants must sign an oath of confidentiality
- Applicants will sign the volunteer agreement
- The applicant will be notified when they have been either approved or denied
Download a copy of the volunteer roles and screening process.
Volunteer programs and roles
There are a variety of ways to get involved as a volunteer at Durham CAS, however, our key volunteer roles are drivers and mentors
Drivers: Volunteer drivers provide safe and reliable transportation to children and youth. Drivers transport children to school, family visits, therapy and medical appointments.
Child/Youth Mentor: Volunteer mentors offer a positive one-to-one relationship focused on the individual child or youth. The relationship helps to build trust and self-esteem, teach skills, offers support and recreational experience.
Parent Mentor: Parent mentor volunteers provide one-to-one support, safety and independence in parenting. Volunteers help parents with budgeting, cooking, meal planning and household management.
Additional Volunteer Roles: Volunteers also support other areas such as our Board of Directors, Holiday Hope Program, childcare for on-site programs, our Clothes Basket program. Volunteers also assist in the planning and coordination of special events and activities.
Please note: All volunteer drivers and mentors must possess a full class-G license.
Current volunteer needs
You can submit an application at any time; depending on our current needs, applications will be filed until opportunities arise.
For more information or to receive an application form, please contact Volunteer Services.