Volunteers will be involved in the planning, promoting and implementation or the New Horizons Seniors Program.

Kids Help Phone’s texting service is the only free, 24/7 bilingual text line for people in Canada. The service is delivered by trained, volunteer crisis responders who work remotely. 

We are recruiting overnight and or bilingual crisis responders who will answer texts from young people looking for support in both English AND French.

The volunteer position will be remote, meaning that you can participate from anywhere in Canada as long you have a strong, reliable internet connection!  

Our volunteers need to be enthusiastic about helping people!

You can be a professional, student, teacher, retiree, or anybody else with a willingness to learn how to support people over text.  

The role of a crisis responder is to bring texters from a “hot” moment to a cool calm one, and to help them come up with a plan to stay healthy and safe.

Crisis responders are trained to do this using active listening and collaborative problem-solving.

• Special events
• Art programming
• Outings
• Friendly visiting
• Gardening
• Spiritual care
• Pet therapy visits

Volunteers will lead a gentle functional fitness program designed for community members aged 55+.

The purpose of the program is to:
• Increase and maintain strength, coordination, balance and flexibility
• Improve health and energy
• Improve mobility and independence
• Prevent falls and decrease falls risk
• Meet new people and socialize

• One on one visiting with residents
• Supporting and/or facilitating group activities
• Reading or playing games with residents
• Meal assistance

• Participate in the operation of the shelter (shifts - evening, night, breakfast)
• Carry out the many tasks required for the seamless functioning of the shift/program.
• Interact with guests throughout the duration of the shift (unless it’s quiet/sleep hours).

Two sites: Camphill Nottawasaga, near Angus and Camphill Sophia Creek in Barrie.

Camphill Sophia Creek (Barrie)

• work in the mosaic studio
• help with meal preparation in the Cafe
• assist with recreational activities, music sessions and cultural outings, Bingo events and other special events such as Fall Fairs

Camphill Nottawasaga (Angus)

• help with programs in woodworking, pottery, candlemaking, and bakery/meal preparation
• can be involved in maple syrup production, working in the vegetable gardens and caring for livestock (Highland cows horses and goats)

Both locations need volunteers to help with set-up, cash management and take-down at our Farmers Markets

Bench Warmers are friendly people who allow others to engage in conversation in either parks or malls. Studies show that loneliness has the same dire consequences on physical health as smoking a pack a day! Social connection is so needed (and often lost in the shuffle of busyness and technology) and MatureMinds Friendship Bench offers an opportunity for interaction and social engagement. The implementation is simple but the results are deep and  meaningful. Volunteers will receive training in active listening, self care, mental health awareness, and ageism. After successfully completing the training, volunteers become Bench Warmers. They sit on a bench either at a park or in a mall with a sign that says "If you want to talk, I want to listen." Be part of the cure for the loneliness epidemic! Become a Bench Warmer.

• Provide regular visits to assigned older adult clients, offering companionship, conversation & engagement in meaningful activities 
• Perform regular outbound phone calls to assigned older adult clients  
• Report any health or safety concerns to the Supervisor 
• Provide monthly activity reports to Supervisor 

Visiting residents residing in long term care, one-on-one. This can include walking with residents inside and outside the facility.

GrandPals are older adults (not necessarily Grandparents) who love children and want to make a difference for generations to come. GrandPals are trained in the stories they have to share over 5 weeks. After training, we connect GrandPals with a classroom where they meet with the same 2-4 students over a period of 8 weeks. The stories that GrandPals share about their own lives become part of the students' curriculum. Students capture the stories presented in written assignments as well as art projects.

Be part of a unique intergenerational initiative that connects generations through the power of storytelling. Volunteers will get 5 weeks of training and then will spend 8 weeks in an elementary school classroom sharing stories and building relationships. Volunteers must love children! For more information, a Brunch & Learn will be held on September 26 in Barrie- registration required.

• Welcome donors to hospitality area of clinic
 

• offer refreshments
 

• give information and updates to donors
 

• answer questions, thank donors and give milestone donor recognition items
 

• observe donors and watch for adverse reactions
 

• keep hospitality area in good order

As part of our vision to see persons with dementia living well and thriving, this program seeks out ways to keep a person engaged within their home, while simlutaneously providing care partners with a little bit of respite.

Volunteers will conduct 1:1 weekly meaningful and social recreation visits with persons living with dementia.  Volunteers will receive training and support from In-Home Recreation Coordinator as well as an outline of suggested activities.  They will also have flexibilty to plan activities that best meet the client's needs. 

Weekly visits are 1.5 hours in length and a 6 month committment is appreciated.

Assist with participant pre-evaluations and assessments 
Help with the set up and clean up of refreshments, games and activities 
Assist Minds in Motion Coordinator to ensure activity participation and socialization 
Under direction of the Physical Activity Program Leader, provide one-on-one support to participants during physical activity component of the program 
Assist with any other required task 
Complete a post evaluation form

• Help with the set up and clean up of the projects each week.
• Assist Art Therapist to ensure activity participation and socialization of each participant
• Under direction of the Art Therapist/Family Support Coordinator, provide one-to-one support to the participants during the creative art process.
• Assist with any other tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the program.
• At the end of the Program (June) complete an evaluation form about the volunteer role in the Quest Art School + Gallery Program.

Are you a wordsmith who loves people? We are looking for older adult volunteers to help newcomers to Canada feel welcome. Help newcomers get socially connected and practice English by playing scrabble! An extensive vocabulary is not necessary (there are dictionaries for that :)) so if you are friendly and want to make a meaningful contribution by helping newcomers, this could be the club for you! Scrabble Club will last four weeks, allowing volutneers to build relationships with newcomers. 

Volunteers will be responsable for meeting with a clients weekly or bi-weekly to add enrichment to peoples lives. Clients are blind or have vision loss to some degree, which often requires adpaments to life. Volunteers are required to socialse with them and add normal contact back in their lives after the effects of the pandemic. They can go for walks, visit community gardens, really anything the pair would enjoy. The requirement are up to the two people who are paired. 

Help Senior Wish expand into Simcoe County to ensure that no senior is left isolated, alone and feeling like society has forgotten them. Help is especially needed to prepare for our Christmas Wish program starting in Sept.