As many people have done in retirement, I, too, decided to approach volunteer organizations where my free time might be put to good use. Little did I know that trying to land an opportunity to volunteer would be almost as challenging as applying for paid work! Here is what I learned about volunteering:
Where to go
There are many organizations advertising for volunteers. All anyone has to do Google volunteer opportunities for whatever community, and if you find one offering an activity of interest, you can try your luck at completing an online submission form. Give it a few days or weeks for a response.
Another place to look is at annual or biannual fairs where local organizations provide potential volunteers with the inside scoop on available opportunities. Those events are usually well-attended by seniors with free time, and university students trying to rack up volunteer hours to improve their chances at a job.
Of the two options, I think making contacts in person, at a fair, might yield better results. But based on my experience, a personal referral from a friend or former colleague is sometimes the quickest way to get you from point A to B in the volunteer queue.
The process
While most organizations are pleased to sign up as many individuals as they can, what is not always revealed is the amount of time it takes to process a volunteer’s application. It can take months. The reality is that even though the need for volunteers is greater than it ever was, some of the agencies are either not well organized or they don’t have enough staff to process applications in a timely manner. This is the explanation I was given by two volunteer coordinators in recent weeks.
The first step of the process is the Police Record Check, which is required by almost all agencies considering volunteers. In particular, the ‘Level 3 – Vulnerable Sector Check’ is essential for any volunteer activity involving children or seniors in need. This application can be completed online, and the turnaround time by email is fairly quick.
There is a fee associated with a police check, but it can be bypassed with a letter from the organization you approached for a volunteer position. It’s important to note, however, that a Police Record Check is only valid for a period of six months, after which time it has to be renewed.
If an agency asks you to apply for a police check, chances are your application is being considered. Once you have been cleared by a police service, contact the agency to let their volunteer coordinator know that you will be sending your Police Record Check by email. Doing so could help you get to the interview phase more promptly.
The DIY approach
Last year, when I applied to volunteer in schools, the application process took several months. Eventually, the coordinator copied me on her email to the principal at a school within walking distance from my home. She confirmed that I had been cleared to volunteer with that school’s literacy program, and she gave the principal my contact information.
There were no follow-up communications from the coordinator or the principal, and after a few weeks of waiting, I decided to go to the school myself to ask the principal why I had been dismissed before I had even started the assignment!
Apologies were made, and two weeks later, I was assigned to assist one teacher. My job was to work one hour per week with young students who needed help reading in French. It was a wonderful experience while it lasted, and I truly enjoyed working with each one of the students. At first, some of them were not sure why they should be doing extra work with me, but within a week or two, all were happy to come sit with me to read, and to show me how much better they were at reading than their classmates. Their competitive spirit was especially amusing.
I landed a second volunteer activity, thanks to help from a friend who spoke about my availability to the principal at the school that her daughters attended. The principal contacted me within a day or two, and I started to work with six students from different classes. Once we got to know each other, and settled into a routine, fun times at reading and writing were had by all.
Unfortunately, working at both these schools had its challenges. The kids were all adorable and worked well during their time with me, but when the teacher at the first school was absent, my hour with her students was cancelled, and no make-up times were offered. At the second school, the administration staff were so busy that I wasn’t notified if a student was home sick, on a field trip, or at a medical appointment, and sometimes, teachers would forget to send a student to our designated reading room. As the school was a half-hour drive from my home, it was disappointing to find that my services wouldn’t be required on those days.
A few weeks ago, I spoke to a volunteer coordinator for Big Sisters about my volunteer jobs at both schools. She said that she spends a great deal of her time intervening on behalf of volunteers whose experiences in school settings were similar to mine.
Giving it another try
My most recent application was to once again work with young children needing help with reading and writing assignments. It took nearly three months after my completed police check was submitted before the agency contacted me for an interview. Following the interview, another two months went by without any further communication about the volunteer job I had applied for. I found this discouraging given that there are probably many young kids who need extra help that their busy parents and teachers aren’t able to provide.
I’ve never been one to easily give up on something I set my mind to, but there are times when you just know that things are not going to work out, so I decided to cut my losses and move on.
There are always other alternatives
I guess the moral of this story is not to get disheartened with the process of finding a volunteer posting that could bring joy for you and the person you might be helping. Some organizations might be more efficient than others at volunteer recruitment, so anyone looking for an opportunity has reason to be hopeful.
As well, there are many other ways to volunteer for organizations whose application processes may not be as lengthy or rigid. Churches, for instance, are involved in a number of charitable activities. You need only roll up your sleeves and jump in, and any help you can offer would be welcome and appreciated.
I see many people, like me, who pick up trash left behind on the roadside by the litterbugs in our community. No police check or multiple character references required for this volunteer activity! It’s also a great form of exercise, and you can immediately see positive results from your efforts. This task may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but what would our neighbourhoods look like if no one did it?
Remember that there can never be enough volunteers to fill every need, and the gift of your time and support would be invaluable wherever you go.
Lise Cloutier-Steele is an Ottawa writer and the author of the 2025 Edition of There’s No Place Like Home: A guide to help caregivers manage the long-term care experience, available from www.ottawacaregiver.com. Her favourite volunteer activities are to raise funds to buy quilts for residents of long-term care facilities, and to provide loot bags for the homeless and school backpacks for kids of low-income families.
