Opportunities From: iVolunteer Powered by United Way British Columbia

Do you want to make a difference?  
  

The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) strives to ensure that Emergency Management Programs are the highest quality, provide safe learning environments, and meet all guidelines and standards outlined by the organization. We are currently seeking volunteers to join our Safety and Wellbeing (SWB) team as Responders.  

 

Safety and Wellbeing Responders are best known for helping people during a disaster. This role can involve providing emotional support to people at evacuation shelters, connecting with communities by phone or in person following a fire or flood to check how people impacted are coping, or connecting people to services within their community to support their recovery.

  
In preparation for being successful in this role, all volunteers will be asked to successfully complete an online learning path offered to you free of charge by the CRC. You must be able to commit to completing 2-5 days worth of required online training and attend team meetings and training updates as required.

As a SWB Responder, you will:  

Develop skills that allow you to provide psychosocial support and contribute to creating safe and supportive environments for people impacted by disasters in your own community and beyond. Be given opportunities to engage in relief activities and field deployments. Join our local Safety and Wellbeing team which is part of our larger Mental Health and Psychosocial Support program, providing psychological first aid and connecting individuals to local resources and supports. You will enjoy:  
Culture:  an organization that is guided by our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality  
Opportunity:  to work with others, in an environment that promotes continuous learning, support and collaboration
Collaboration: to be an integral member of the SWB team that helps people during a disaster
Training & Development:  comprehensive orientation as well as ongoing training and development     
 
Who you are: Committed to the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Movement and model the core competencies of the CRCS: team excellence, service excellence, accountability and results focused Open to working closely with Indigenous, Metis and Inuit peoples as well as with the diversity of cultures found across Canada Enjoy working in teams Comfortable working in fast paced, ever changing environment Collaborative, accountable, and reliable Respectful of privacy and confidentiality You bring many talents, including:  Strong interpersonal listening and communication skills. Can communicate in a respectful, sensitive, and supportive way. Proficient computer literacy.  Considered an asset but not required: Current or previous Canadian Red Cross Instructional training including but not limited to Youth Leader, Respect Education Facilitators, Water Safety Instructor, First Aid Instructor, etc. A background in psychology, nursing, teaching, social work, youth engagement, public health, emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, nursing, child and youth services) or related fields Fluency in other languages such as French and Indigenous languages  Where and when you would volunteer:   Must have availability to deploy for 5-14 consecutive days between April and September  The Impact: As a Safety and Wellbeing Responder, you will have an impact on the ground in your community. You will be promoting and supporting Community Engagement and Mobilization with existing organizations and ensuring that people who are impacted have access to services that meet their needs. Whether you are providing emotional support (via Psychological First Aid) to people affected by emergencies, helping connect individuals to supports and services in their communities, providing information sessions to other team members on psychosocial support and wellbeing topics, you will be making a real difference.

Volunteering for this position can be done by those 18 or older. 

This position will require a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check or equivalent. 

At this time, the CRC has temporarily suspended our Covid-19 vaccination policy and does not require but continues to strongly encourage full vaccination of all our personnel.
 

The Canadian Red Cross is committed to gender equality and social inclusion in our workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, color, religion, nationality, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We encourage all qualified persons to apply particularly Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, visible minorities, and others who share our values and contribute to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.  

 
If you are interested in becoming a Canadian Red Cross Safety and Wellbeing Responder, please tell us about yourself along with the skills and experience you can bring to Red Cross by completing an online application:

Apply Now - Canadian Red Cross

Do you want to make a difference?

The Canadian Red Cross, a not-for-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need, is actively seeking volunteers to join one of our regional British Columbia Emergency Support Services (ESS) Teams. This unique opportunity allows you to provide emergency support to people who have been impacted by a small disaster or emergency within the first 72 hours.

As a member of the British Columbia Emergency Support Services Team, you will:

Respond to ESS alerts to support local and provincial responses. Fully assess those impacted by the emergency to evaluate their needs immediately following an emergency; complete ESS documentation and ensure the appropriate referrals are complete. Support the well-being of people impacted by providing referrals to partner agencies and other community-based groups for services.

You will enjoy:

Culture: an organization that is guided by our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality Flexibility: a variety of roles that flex with your stage of life allowing you to volunteer close to home, for a few hours each week or a few weeks at a time    Volunteer Benefits: insurance coverage while volunteering plus access to our Employee Assistance program for support during difficult times. Meaningful Work: providing humanitarian relief that will create an impact at the individual and community level within British Columbia. Training & Development: comprehensive training and the opportunity to participate in leadership development.

Through the course of your work as an ESS volunteer you will not only assist during times of disaster and emergency, you will also help people to be better prepared, better connected to each other and more resilient when emergencies happen.

What you bring to the role:

Commitment – to the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Movement and the core competencies of team excellence, service excellence and accountability. Customer service skills – dedicated to supporting those affected by emergencies. Communication skills – utilize active listening, care, the ability to explain and confirm understanding when dealing with complex situations. Attention to detail – necessary to accurately input sensitive information. Computer skills – basic/intermediate skills will be necessary. Flexibility – ability to respond to alerts during non-traditional hours may be required, for example during evenings or weekends. Teamwork values – assist your team members, respect diversity, and be willing to build relationships. Ability to remain calm during a crisis – express empathy, remain focused and, respond decisively and shift priorities as needed. Dependable and reliable -Availability to respond to ESS response notifications is critical. Emergency management and/or ESS experience.

 

Where and when you would volunteer:

The response work is performed in the community. You must live in British Columbia and within driving distance of the community in which you are applying. Available communities are listed below The potential exists for responding in a disaster area. If this is required following safety protocols, will be critical for the safety of the responder and the people impacted. If working in a disaster situation, health and safety considerations will be outlined before the assignment. You will be able to respond to unplanned emergencies or disaster-related requests during regular hours or non-traditional hours (evenings and weekends). Minimum one-year commitment to the role.

How to apply:

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

This position will require a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check or equivalent.

At this time, the CRC has temporarily suspended our Covid-19 vaccination policy and does not require but continues to strongly encourage full vaccination of all our personnel.

The Canadian Red Cross is committed to gender equality and social inclusion in our workplace. All volunteer applicants will receive consideration without regard to sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, colour, religion, nationality, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. We welcome applications from all applicants particularly Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, visible minorities, and others who may contribute to diversification and share our values . Please notify us as soon as possible of any adaptive measures you require at any stage of the recruitment process.

Welcoming ESS applicants from:

qathet Regional District Communities: Gillies Bay, Powell River, Texada Island, Van Anda Salt Spring Island City of Richmond Maple Ridge Sea to Sky Communities: Squamish, Garibaldi Highlands, Brackendale, Whistler, Pemberton Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Communities: Christina Lake, Fruitvale, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, Montrose, Rock Creek, Rossland, Trail,      Warfield, Westbridge Regional District of North Okanagan Communities: Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby, Lumby, Mara, Spallumcheen  Regional District of East Kootenay Communities: Canal Flats, Cranbrook, Elkford, Fernie, Grasmere, Invermere, Kimberley, Radium Hot Springs, Sparwood

To apply for this position, visit our website here:

Apply Now - Canadian Red Cross

You want to make a difference? Embrace the journey of the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) to support communities in needs. The Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP) offers mobility, independence and safety to people recovering from illness or surgery or wishing to spend their final days in their own homes. The HELP Client Services Volunteer provides administrative support like answering the phone and coordinating health equipment loans and returns.

The Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP) is looking for Client Services Volunteers for the following offices:

Coastal Region: Campbell River, Courtenay, Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Port Alice, Port Hardy, Powell River, Salt Spring Island, and Victoria. Lower Mainland Region: Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Langley, Maple Ridge, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, White Rock, and Squamish. Southern BC Region: Kelowna, West Kelowna, Enderby, Keremeos, Lake Country, Oliver, Penticton, Princeton, Salmon Arm, Vernon, 100 Mile House, Ashcroft, Kamloops, Merritt, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Creston, Fernie, Grand Forks, Invermere, Kaslo, Nelson, Revelstoke, and Trail.  Northern BC Region/ Yukon: Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Kitimat, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, Smithers, Terrace, Williams Lake, and Whitehorse. 

The Health Equipment Loan Program team is looking for volunteers to be part of their mission. Because of HELP volunteers, tens of thousands of Canadians who are recovering from surgery or illness are able to access health equipment that enhances mobility and independence, allowing them to recover from the comfort of their home.
 

Volunteer Opportunity Conditions:   

Location: in-person at a HELP Depot in your community (HELP Depot locations listed above) Minimum age: 16 years and older.   Minimum volunteer hours /period: The hours may vary but are generally three to four hours per week, either mornings or afternoons from Monday to Friday. Weekday evenings or Saturday shifts are available in some locations (in B.C. only).   Work is performed in an office environment and is aligned to National and Provincial Health Standards as required during COVID-19. Personal protective equipment (PPE), physical distancing and regular hand hygiene practices are required.  This position requires a satisfactory Canadian Criminal Record Check (Ministry of Justice Check), and a Vulnerable Sector Check. These are completed during the Intake/Onboarding process with the Canadian Red Cross.

As a volunteer in this role, you will: 

Connect with clients and health care providers to verify referral requests, facilitate the loaning and returning of health equipment, make reminder calls, and assist with equipment recalls if required  Select the appropriate medical equipment to match health professional referrals, complete minor adjustments to ensure appropriate fit for clients  Ensure the integrity of data collection and recording of all call/ client trackers and statistical information  Provide instruction(s) on basic equipment use and respond to client inquiries regarding equipment set-up, returns, repairs and loan extensions  Contributes to a healthy and safe working environment  Accept financial and equipment donations to the Canadian Red Cross, and issue tax and non-tax receipts as needed 

You bring these essential talents: 

Interest and/or experience in providing exceptional customer service to Health Equipment Loan Program clients  Excellent interpersonal skills, including working in a busy environment  Ability to empathize with clients concerns to deliver service with compassion  Data entry experience  Excellent telephone manner with contact centre or multi-line phone system skills an asset  Demonstrated understanding and compassion of the aging population, including community resource knowledge and resourcing  Experience working with a diverse population an asset  Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment  Strong organization skills  Some lifting of equipment is required.  We recommend volunteers be capable of lifting up to 50lbs  Full training is provided; however, volunteers should be comfortable with using a computer, and have good written and conversational English. Other languages are considered an asset  Ability to work independently and to collaborate in a team environment 

 

At the Canadian Red Cross, our volunteers are catalysts for hope, dedicated to embodying our core principles while collectively creating a transformative, life-changing impact in communities nationwide.   

By joining us as a volunteer, you will immerse yourself in a vibrant network of passionate individuals, fostering personal growth, gaining experience as well as an invaluable sense of purpose, and profound satisfaction of positively shaping lives across our diverse and resilient nation.  

We are devoted to cultivating an open, diverse, inclusive and barrier-free volunteering environment, ensuring that everyone can contribute and thrive in our community.  

For program information and to complete your application for the Client Services Volunteer position, please follow this link: Apply Now - Canadian Red Cross