Volunteer!

Are you eager for an opportunity to learn and practice office skills for future employment? Are you interested in working in a fun, light-hearted environment with lots of wonderful people? Are you looking for a way to contribute and give back to the persons with disabilities community? If so, then consider registering with the Volunteer Skills Development Program at the Victoria Disability Resource Centre!

We are looking for kind, courteous, dedicated individuals to volunteer in our front office!

Benefits of Volunteering

Our volunteer positions provide valuable experience in customer service and gaining knowledge of community resources. There will be plenty of opportunity to develop key office skills, such as:

• data entry
• file management
• practice using Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel and Access Database)

The Victoria Disability Resource Centre is a perfect place to gain work experience in such fields as administration, the non-profit sector, and working with the public.

In addition, we strive to make the office a light-hearted, friendly space for people to work in. Staff are always on hand for assistance and all volunteers are encouraged to ask for it as many times as they need. We want all of our volunteers to feel comfortable, safe and supported.

Our office is an ideal environment for many different reasons that you may be seeking out a volunteer position, such as:

• You are looking to get back into daily work gradually after being on an extended leave
• You are looking to put some experience on your resume to apply towards a future paid position
• You are looking for a supportive environment to practice your social skills
• And much more!

Interested in learning more about what opportunities could be available to you by volunteering at the Victoria Disability Resource Centre? Contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@drcvictoria.com with any questions!

Available Positions

Front Desk Administrators

Front Desk Reception Administrators answer the phones and transfer messages to the various departments within the VDRC. They listen to the service user’s situation and ensure they are referred to the proper source of assistance. This task requires a strong ability to listen attentively and make prompt assessments about where to refer the service user. Another task involves sorting through all incoming and outgoing mail and maintaining a comprehensive log. They also assist with preparing our large monthly mailout of accessible parking placard renewal reminders, which primarily involves folding papers and stuffing envelopes.

Parking Placard Desk Administrators

Parking Placard Desk Administrators process and distribute parking placards for people with disabilities, either in person or over the phone. They handle any incoming money and maintain thorough electronic and hard copy records of everyone who buys a placard from us. There will be plenty of opportunities to practice processing payments via cheque, as well as credit card and debit via our debit machine. Volunteers will also become familiar with how to operate our Microsoft Access database in order to keep track of a service user’s placard purchase history and contact information.

Peer Outreach Volunteer

As a Peer Outreach volunteer, you will schedule one-on-one check-ins with persons living with disabilities, via phone, email, text, or video call. Volunteers will provide program participants with the opportunity to have some pleasant conversation about whatever is on their mind, or even potentially connect them with any help or resources they may require.

Data Entry – Going Paperless

This position is part of the VDRC’s initiative to operating a purely digital office environment. Data Entry – Going Paperless volunteers work through backlogs of hardcopy parking placard applications, making sure all the correct information is properly entered into our Microsoft Access database. They would then scan and securely dispose of all paper copies. This is a very low-pressure position and perfect for anyone who may prefer working on a solo project at their own pace. The position offers plenty of opportunity for training on how to use Microsoft Access.

Data Entry – Satellite Office Applications

These Data Entry volunteers go through stacks of applications from our satellite offices in Sidney and Langford and enter the contact info and purchase history of each service user into our database. Much like the Going Paperless volunteers, this is also a low-pressure project that can be done at your own pace and offer plenty of training opportunities for Microsoft Access.

Data Entry – VDRC Backlog

These Data Entry volunteers go through stacks of applications from service users that have applied for placards through the VDRC during the pandemic and ensure that the contact info and purchase history is correctly entered. They would be performing a very similar task to those processing the Satellite Office Applications. Again, this is a low-pressure project that can be done at your own pace and offer plenty of training opportunities for Microsoft Access.

Information & Referral Volunteer

Information and Referral Volunteers help the Information Coordinators with updating our list of community resources available to persons with disabilities, as well as looking into new potential resources. The position involves plenty of research into what types of resources are available to the persons with disabilities community, either through online searches or phone calls. There will be plenty of opportunity to strengthen your research skills and practice interpersonal interactions involving confidential and sensitive materials.

LEAD

Our LEAD program is also looking for volunteers! Find out more about the LEAD Program here, or contact our LEAD Coordinator at educator@drcvictoria.com

There may also be opportunities that come up for other volunteer jobs, as the need arises.