The Women's Centre of Calgary

Volunteer & job description:

Peer support is trust-based support from trained volunteers that women provide to each other. Our peer support is: non-judgmental, non-therapeutic, delivered on a one-to-one basis. Peer support is available to women who need basic needs support, information about community resources, direction based on a question or concern, someone to listen.

Duties:

• Helping women who drop-in or phone by providing resource information and referrals to other agencies.
• Providing women with support (emotional) through active listening.
• Managing bookings for: workshops, legal advice clinics and one-on-one peer appointments.
• Keeping informed about the Women's Centre / community programs and upcoming events.
• Talking to women in general to facilitate social connections and to maintain an inclusive and a welcoming space for all women.
• Providing front desk reception and giving assistance with other work as needed.

Needed skills:

• Ability to work with a diverse range of women in a non-judgmental manner.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Participation in an initial orientation and ongoing training sessions.
• An interest in women's issues and in helping women.
• Good listening and communication skills.
• A willingness to work within the philosophy of the Women's Centre.

Time commitment:

Minimum of a 3-month commitment of one, 3-hour shift per week during the Centre's Open Hours.

Please note, a valid (<6 months) Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Check is required for this role. The Women's Centre can support interested volunteers in obtaining this Check.

Please apply at this link.

In coordination with the Women’s Centre team, volunteer lawyers provide free legal advice to women and gender-diverse people through individual sessions or workshops. The sessions aim to provide a starting point to those accessing the legal system, empowering them with options and information. Volunteers do not provide legal representation and are required to maintain confidentiality.

The Women’s Centre is registered as an Approved Legal Service Provider. This means volunteer lawyers who are otherwise exempt from indemnity coverage are covered for volunteer legal services.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Actively practicing in family, estate, immigration, civil or criminal law.
• Must be a member in good standing with the Alberta Bar Association.
• Must have accreditation as a practicing lawyer in Alberta.
• Must have a minimum of two years practice experience.
• Ability to work with women of diverse backgrounds.
• A basic understanding of relevant social issues including but not limited to gender-based violence, family breakdown, and child maltreatment. 
• Excellent empathetic listening and communication skills.
• Time commitment: two hours per month.

All program volunteers undergo: (1) a police information check with a vulnerable search; and (2) two reference checks.

ASSETS

• Bilingualism.
• An understanding of trauma-informed practices.
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS
This volunteer opportunity is primarily in-person and onsite at the Women’s Centre of Calgary.  Some remote delivery is available on an as-needed basis.

https://www.lawsociety.ab.ca/resource-centre/public-resources/approved-legal-services-providers-for-the-public/

Questions? Please email volprog@womenscentrecalgary.org

Program Description: The role of a Community Connector volunteer at the Women’s Centre is multi-faceted, starting with being the friendly and welcoming presence that women encounter upon entering the Centre. Beyond this, Community Connectors are pivotal in informing women about ongoing activities within the Centre and directing them to the appropriate areas for support.

The heart of the Community Connector role lies in fostering meaningful engagement within the lounge area. This involves cultivating connections, sparking interactions, kindling conversations, and coordinating activities that resonate with the women present (and at times with youth and kids). This space serves as a hub for women to connect, share experiences, and find solidarity. As a Community Connector, this is your canvas to innovate, create, and weave threads of connection among the women within the Centre.

Role Duties:

Greeting and engaging with women to ensure they feel welcomed at the centre by:

• Welcoming women at the door.
• Guiding women to the support areas they want such as our Peer Support volunteers, basic needs, workshops, and equipment area.
• Forge connections through conversations, capturing impactful stories and experiences shared by the community at the lounge area – conduct interactive activities among women to create connections.
• Relationship building with women through conversation.
• Serving tea, coffee, and snacks to community members.
• Organize resource area, bookshelves, reading nook and information board.
• Offering support with computers, fax machine, phone.
• Offering tours and sharing information about the WC and community-building opportunities.

Required Skills:

• A willingness to work within the philosophy of the Women's Centre.
• Ability to work with a diverse range of women in a non-judgmental manner.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Participation in an initial orientation, 2 core training sessions, volunteer shadowing, and ongoing training sessions.
• An interest in women's issues and in helping women.
• Good listening and flexible communication skills.
• Enjoy small talk, being friendly and having a welcoming approach to meeting people

Time Commitment: 1 shift per week (3 hours/shift) for a minimum commitment of 3 months during the Centre's Open Hours.

Program Description

This role is onsite at the Women's Centre.

Working within the Community Capacity Building Peer Model, the Food Program Volunteers support women in our community with essential access to food. Working with the Calgary Food Bank, Food Program volunteers will assemble and distribute food hampers to women from the Women’s Centre while facilitating social connections.

Job Duties

• Support centre staff to receive and unload food shipments from the Calgary Food Bank
• Assemble the food hampers, perishable items, and frozen items before women come for their hamper
• Distribute food hampers to women as they come in throughout the shift
• Engage with women to facilitate social connections and to maintain an inclusive and welcoming space for all women
• Support the Emergency Hamper program

Needed Skills

• A willingness to work within the philosophy of the Women's Centre
• Ability to work with a diverse range of women in a non-judgemental manner
• An interest in women's issues and in helping women
• Participation in an initial orientation and ongoing training sessions
• Ability to work unsupervised and collaboratively within a small volunteer team
• Must be able to lift 15lbs +

Time Commitment

Minimum of a 6-month commitment, 1 shift per week (minimum 3 hours per week).

Shifts are Monday and Tuesday mornings from 9 AM to 12:30 PM.

Program Description:

• The Digital Literacy Program at the Women's Centre provides a low barrier foundational program for women to build skills and confidence in digital literacy.
• Women will build foundational digital skills in several key areas through:
  • Free computer classes at the Centre
  • Or, by working with volunteers in our drop-in space to answer any tech-related questions (including, but not limited to: creating and accessing email, converting documents from word to PDF, printing/faxing documents, formatting documents).

Role Responsibilities:

• Provide a supportive, inclusive and non-judgemental learning environment when interacting with individuals and answering tech-related questions.
• Build relationships with learners and provide informed and engaging educational experience with learners.
• Attend Women’s Centre volunteer training and any other relevant training sessions.
• Report to staff on the number of topics covered with learners, number of learners and hours covered.
• Refer participants to Peer Support Volunteers for other support and referrals as needed.

Needed Skills:

• Ability to work with a diverse range of women in a non-judgemental manner.
• Willingness to gain or have existing knowledge of literacy, language proficiency, skills, knowledge, and individual learning needs and plan sessions accordingly.
• Strong foundational computer skills in the following areas: 
  • Microsoft Office – Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • Email
  • Zoom
  • Going online
  • Saving files and backups
  • Using websites
  • Creating passwords
  • Online safety and privacy
• Fluent in English. Other languages are an asset.
• Commitment to volunteering one shift per week.
• Good listening and communication skills.
• A commitment to work within the peer model philosophy of the Women’s Centre.

Time Commitment: 3 hours per week, for a minimum of 3-months.

Description:

Women’s Learning is a core program of the Women’s Centre and is primarily provided by volunteer facilitators and hosts both online via Zoom and in-person. Workshop Support Volunteers support the Centre’s learning programs by providing assistance to facilitators with workshop set-up, administration, and help create a welcoming workshop space for attendees.

Duties:

Support Learning Coordinator and/or volunteer facilitator with the workshop set-up, including tables, workshop supplies and refreshments.

Greet women as they arrive for workshops.

Administrative support including taking attendance, completing waivers and evaluation surveys and other relevant tasks.

Provide a supportive, inclusive and non-judgmental environment.

Refer participants to Peer Support volunteers for other support and referrals.

Promote Women’s Centre workshops, events and other services. 

Needed skills:

Ability to work with a diverse range of women in a non-judgmental manner.

Ability to work both independently and as a team member.

An interest in women’s issues and in helping women.

Good listening and communication skills.

A willingness to work within the framework of the Women’s Centre.

Follow through with the volunteer commitment as pre-determined.

A commitment to attend the Introduction to the Women’s Centre Orientation Session.

Time commitment:

3-4 hours per month or per week and depending on availability and learning program schedule.

Please note, volunteer shifts can occur in the evenings Monday-Thursday based on program scheduling.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email amanda@womenscentrecalgary.org

Every day, community members access the Women's Centre to access basic needs, to participate in free workshops, or to connect with others to feel a sense of belonging.

This volunteer role involves engaging community members in basic crafts or activities in the Open Space of the Centre. Crafts or activities can range from colouring, knitting/crochet, collage-making, creative writing, or another area of interest that volunteers would like to share! 

This volunteer opportunity is in-person, onsite at the Women's Centre. Training will be provided onsite. Please sign up below for upcoming opportunities to help!

Role Duties:

• Setting up the craft or activity in the Open Space.
• Engaging with community members in the Open Space and helping them participate in the craft or activity.
• Offering support to those participating in the craft or activity.
• Keeping the Open Space tidy and tidying up at the end of your shift.
• Helping women get settled with what they came to the centre do – for example, using a computer, meeting with a peer support volunteer, hanging out for a few minutes, etc.

Needed Skills:

• Friendly, welcoming approach to meeting new people and in leading a craft or activity.
• Comfortable approaching and engaging community members in basic crafts and/or activities. 
• Enjoy small talk with women in a non judgmental and supportive manner.
• Flexible and adaptable to changes in the environment.

Time Commitment: Minimum 3-month commitment, 1x weekly shift is preferable, during Centre Open Hours. Training will be provided during your first shift.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Amanda at amanda@womenscentrecalgary.org.