Many volunteers spend their time with non-profit organizations because the purpose and vision of what you’re doing in your communities resonates with their own goals, passions, and motivation to give back. Having volunteers comes with benefits and risks. Having youth volunteers may invite different benefits and risks than having only adult volunteers. As an organization,…
Recruiting and engaging volunteers is much more than requesting a police information check or simply putting an ad up on social media that says, “volunteers needed!” It’s an ongoing process that matches the right volunteer with the right opportunity creating a meaningful and mutually beneficial experience. At Volunteer Alberta, we believe that a successful volunteer…
Volunteers are integral to the nonprofit sector. Many nonprofits/charities, events, festivals and more, would not be possible without Albertans selflessly devoting their time to our communities and causes. But many nonprofits struggle with getting volunteers in the door and finding volunteers who are the right fit that will also come back to volunteer. Fringe Theatre…
There is a misconception that volunteer screening is only about screening people out as a form of risk mitigation. And to a certain extent, volunteer screening is meant to accomplish this; but, screening is also about screening people in, finding the right fit for any type of volunteer role. However, volunteer screening – and screening…
This blog was first published on the Community and Adult Learning Program website on November 28, 2017. Volunteer screening is key to your organization’s success – it provides better volunteer matches, improves safety and quality of programs, and reduces risks and liabilities. Screening is about making informed, reasonable judgements about people based on information gathered…
Volunteer Alberta, along with the Government of Alberta, recently launched our Volunteer Screening Program, which includes education, resources, and funding to enhance Alberta nonprofits’ screening policies and procedures. In this post, Jennifer shares the impact great volunteer screening has had for her family: I am a mom of two wonderful kids. A teenage boy and…
In 2010 alone, 47% of Canadians volunteered 2 billion hours, the equivalent of 1.1 million full-time work positions. Volunteers, who freely offer their services, have become an essential component of our communities and the modern workforce. In the nonprofit sector, we know all too well the benefit volunteers bring to our organizations. For many of…
In my 7 months here at Volunteer Alberta, I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of organizations across Alberta to help them address their needs. One of my responsibilities is to support the administration of the Volunteer Police Information Check Program, designed to alleviate the cost of Police Information Checks for volunteers…
One component of Volunteer Alberta’s Volunteer Police Information Check Program is a service that allows you to submit your organization’s screening policies and/or procedures for review before being accepted into the program. Having managed this program since its inception in 2009, I’ve gained a good sense of why people have difficulties with screening. I…
June 8, 2012 One less barrier for Alberta volunteers Cost of police information checks for volunteers working with children, seniors, and the disabled will be covered Alberta… Volunteers and volunteer engaging groups in Alberta have one less barrier to overcome thanks to the continuation of the Volunteer Police Information Check Program (VPICP). Under this program,…