6 Ways to Prosper As a Volunteer in Peterborough

Every person has a talent they can share as a volunteer in Peterborough. You just need to find the right role at the right time to feel at home with the right people.

Now, we’ve made it easier than you might think.

Whether you’re new to volunteering or just seeking another challenge, hundreds of agencies have their doors open for fresh ideas. First, you need to understand what you want your volunteer experience to be. That way, you can find the right match and enjoy the experience as much as possible.

Where to volunteer in Peterborough

For starters, a region as large as Peterborough has countless options for any kind of volunteer with virtually any interest. If you’re wondering where to volunteer in Peterborough, you can begin close to home. If that doesn’t fit, then you can discover an organization for you within a short drive.

If you want to stay close to home, begin by checking the map function on our site. It will show you opportunities near you when you click on the Map View icon on the righthand side just below the banner. When you give your time nearby, you get to know more neighbours and learn more about where you live.

However, if you have a passion for a certain topic, you can search for volunteer opportunities with that in mind. Perhaps you want to work with animals, children or seniors. You may wish to advocate for a political cause or draw on a specific talent. When you filter volunteer opportunities by Cause Benefited (in the lefthand menu), you can find causes that align with your values.

In all, we have hundreds of agencies, teams and organizations who recruit and appreciate volunteers in Peterborough. You just need to find the right one for you.

Types of volunteer roles

Next, you’ll want to sort out what type of volunteer role suits you best. Here are some examples:

Microvolunteers – giving a few hours for a task like an food drive or an annual event
Regular volunteers – showing up for a regular shift so you can schedule it around other commitments
Sports volunteers – offering your expertise as a coach, trainer, tournament coordinator, etc. during a season
Student volunteers – fulfilling their 40 hours of mandated time to graduate high school or a post-secondary student seeking future job-related experience
Leadership volunteers – serving on a committee or a board to make decisions to shape an organization
Project-related volunteers – contributing time and talent to get an event or construction project off the ground then moving onto the next challenge
Remote volunteers – connecting with others via phone or video without leaving their home or office

Within each of these roles, you can find a great deal of variety so you never get bored. In short, it takes every kind of volunteer in Peterborough for organizations to function well, so choose one that works for you.

How to find volunteer roles in Peterborough

For many years, people found volunteer gigs via their families, co-workers, friends and neighbours. Then they had resources like volunteer centres or the United Way to match them up with agencies they supported. Since 2016, organizations have had to recruit on their own.

Now, all those groups have posted their roles on this site to make it easier for you to shop around. When you set up your profile, you can identify how much time you have to give and which causes speak to your heart.

From there, we will search for suitable roles that seem appropriate for you. Then, you can research each one and decide which ones get your attention.

If you connect with a volunteer job in Peterborough, you may discover other opportunities and get more involved. This could happen with the group you choose or a new one altogether.

Also, you can search for volunteer roles that pop up on the calendar. Let’s say you have a child or grandchild who wants to do something fun together. You can look up events going on during a specific weekend and go help out.

It’s really that easy to connect as a volunteer in Peterborough.

Whether you want to help an animal shelter, a soup kitchen or the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), check our listings. You may be surprised by what you find.

How to have a good volunteer experience

Once you agree to help out, you want to enjoy the time you invest as a volunteer in Peterborough. Usually, that begins with the screening process. Above all, you perform best when you align with the charity you help. Even better, you get to use skills you have developed at school, work or with your family. Therefore, it helps to have honest conversations about what you want to get out of a role.

On the flip side, the volunteer coordinator must offer the same candor. Take the time to read through what the charity or team needs before making a commitment.

The process goes more smoothly when volunteers:

Understand the role they take on
Agree to the hours needed
Take training to prepare for the tasks ahead
Work well with staff and other volunteers

For example, if you agree to join a board of directors, you’ll need to review minutes and financial reports. This information will give you a sense of what’s unfolding so you can offer your insights. You will also likely be expected to serve on a committee and make decisions. If that’s for you, then you’ll walk in prepared.

In another instance, a charity may require helpers to go through police record checks to protect vulnerable people. Or you may need to learn how to work with clients with certain health needs. If this falls within your comfort level, then you will fit in and become a valued member of the team.

Yet, if you discover a volunteer role doesn’t work for you, don’t despair. Simply learn from the experience and seek out another opportunity that feels right for you.

Student volunteers in Peterborough

Since 1999, high school students have required 40 hours of volunteer work to graduate from high school. This gives young people exposure to various agencies and shows them how much a difference they can make.

At the same time, agencies enjoy the energy that student volunteers bring to their tasks. These youths often share new ideas or ask questions to get organizers to consider different approaches. In the end, everyone learns from each other.

Often, students volunteer in Peterborough at events and short-term projects. However, many of them find themselves more involved with causes as they learn more about the impact of their time. As a result, they contribute more goodwill and continue after they move on to the next stage of their life.

Volunteer Peterborough offers listings specific to students looking to fulfill their mandated hours. That way, they can begin their journey any time.

Benefits of volunteering

When more people volunteer in Peterborough, our society grows stronger. The human connections between volunteers, staff, clients, players and parents create wonderful memories and share life lessons.

Each person in the equation wins in various ways due to the benefits of volunteering.

Charities get:

Additional manpower
Fresh ideas
Board leadership
More donations when volunteers also offer them money

Staff win when volunteers:

Share some of their workload
Take on tasks where they don’t naturally excel
Provide camaraderie at events
Inspire new approaches

Clients and athletes enjoy:

Having new people to meet
Getting more one-on-one time to enrich their lives
Learning new ways of looking at the world or doing new things
Expanding their social networks

And finally, volunteers benefit most of all from:

More life skills
Better networking for social interaction and job searches
Stronger mental and physical health.
Clearer cognition arising from different types of problem solving
A richer sense of feeling included and valued
Better quality of life
More confidence
A bigger circle of friends

So, if you want to improve your mental health, volunteer in Peterborough by tapping into our menu of options. You’ll find plenty of volunteer opportunities, fun events and so much more.

What are you waiting for? Create a profile and start searching our listings today!