Our volunteer advocates come from all walks of life and offer a range of experiences and knowledge. Many of our volunteers did not have any previous experience with people with disabilities. It doesn’t take special training to know how to care. A volunteer advocate:

knows they can ask for support from Citizen Advocacy any time

is supportive and flexible

can accept someone for who they are

finds joy in doing simple things

is open to new experiences

is 18 years or older

is available 3-4 times per month, for a few hours each time

makes a commitment to staying matched for at least 12 months

is open to a long-term match beyond the one-year commitment, if available

know you are making a difference in your community

extending your social network

make your own schedule

pick your own activities

enjoy flexibility around work, travel, family, school, etc.

include family and friends in your match

training and support from Citizen Advocacy

reduced loneliness and isolation

help to achieve their hopes and dreams

an opportunity to develop personal networks and relationships

decreased vulnerability

may be able to contribute to their community

increased self-confidence, mental and physical health

Attend a 1-hour information session

Get a recent Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector(it’s free with a letter from us saying you’re applying to volunteer).

Tell us the names of three references that we can contact.

Participate in one or more in-person conversations with a social worker, lasting 60 to 90 minutes. We’ll get to know you, your personality, hobbies and interests. This helps us narrow down the entire waiting list to those that are possibly the best match for you.

Our program allows you to pick the times you volunteer that fit into your schedule. We ask that you commit to getting together with your match partner three to four times a month.

Do you have evening and weekend volunteering opportunities?

Yes. Our program allows you to pick the times you volunteer that fit into your schedule. We ask that you commit to getting together with your match partner three to four times a month.

Yes. Our program allows you to pick the times you volunteer that fit into your schedule. We ask that you commit to getting together with your match partner three to four times a month.

Yes, once your match is established and this is something your match partner (Friend with a disability) would like too.

Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years of age and be available to make a minimum commitment of 12 months to their match.

We are pleased to work with students at colleges and universities but unfortunately we are unable to assist high school students in the completion of the 40 hours of community service.

Yes, we require all volunteers to obtain a vulnerable sector police check (it’s free with a letter from us saying you’re applying to volunteer).

You will be asked to sign a waiver as part of your volunteer application and confidentiality agreement with Citizen Advocacy.

We do not have occasional volunteer opportunities that allow people to do this.

You will be asked to sign a waiver as part of your volunteer application and confidentiality agreement with Citizen Advocacy.

Volunteers must be available to make a minimum commitment of 12 months to their match.

We do not accept individuals with court appointed hours.

All volunteer applicants are fully screened (vulnerable sector check, learning conversation, references) and are not accepted unless all parts of the screening process are completed and cleared.

The volunteer information session (approximately 1 hour long) is a no-commitment opportunity for you to find out more about Citizen Advocacy and help you decide if our volunteer program is a good fit with your interests.

Volunteers play a strong role within the organization. They are working with vulnerable populations. We work hard to ensure the safety of the Citizen Advocacy community, which includes the Friends, volunteers and staff vulnerable sector checks are ones of the measures in place to uphold this high level of safety.

We ask our volunteers to commit for at least one year. We will be matching them with a vulnerable population. If matches close earlier than 12 months it can have a huge impact on the Friend’s self-esteem.