About Us
Since 1985, Volunteer Kamloops has provided community information and volunteer recruitment and referral services by linking volunteers to non-profit organizations, service clubs, special event organizers, and both public and private sector service providers.
The national definition adopted by the Board of Volunteer Canada, September 2001. Volunteer centres exist primarily to foster and develop volunteerism in the community as a whole. This is accomplished by engaging in four types of activities:
- Promoting Volunteerism: Volunteer centres raise awareness of the power of service, encourage people to volunteer, provide information about volunteerism and recognize the contribution of volunteers.
In promoting volunteerism, we request those seeking volunteer opportunities to examine what their passion is. If this is unknown, then we request they seek a volunteer position to assist in their self discovery. We make it easy for people to volunteer by providing three human service programs to the community with continuous funding applications for additional staff. In the near future, we shall tell the stories of volunteers and the non-profit organizations / agencies and how volunteers make their service better.
- Building capacity for effective local volunteering: Volunteer centres help voluntary sector organizations, and other groups and individuals that work with volunteers, do a better job of recruiting, managing, and retaining volunteers.
Volunteer Kamloops offers a series of Volunteer Management, Staff Development, Board Development, and Leadership Training (Strategic Planning) information sessions during the Spring and Winter months each year. VK also has a list of consultants available for one on one consultations and offer ongoing support to organizations and event organizers that utilize v+olunteers.
- Providing leadership on issues relating to volunteerism: Volunteer centres serve as a convenor for the community and a catalyst for action. They work through local partnerships and collaboration with various groups and organizations, government, schools and community leaders to identify needs and mobilize volunteer response.
VK staff members convene and participate on community committees and collaborations and advise volunteers of community needs. We enter in collaborations of merit (City of Kamloops, School District #73, United Way, Interior Health Authority, etc.) and have people attend when we convene by building community credibility. We currently have volunteer board members to ensure agency planning, goals, and structure are maintained. This is made possible through the sponsorship received from the Enterprise Entertainment Affiliation Agreement (BC Gaming Commission).
- Connecting people with opportunities to serve: Volunteer centres provide people with easy access to a wide variety of opportunities to connect to their community through service.
Volunteer Kamloops currently targets mainstream youth (13 to 18 years of age) and adults 19 and over through Volunteer Link Program.
The general population of volunteers are also provided with recruitment and referral services by the Volunteer Link Program (19+ years of age).
The FOCUS Program provides mental health consumers (Occupational Therapists and Self Referrals) with volunteer referral services to meet their special requests / needs.
Our commitment is to provide a weekly list of volunteer opportunities at our administration office and newsprint. All program coordinators at Volunteer Kamloops offer ongoing support and encouragement to individuals, agencies, and event planners as they seek ways to become actively involved in community capacity building. One-time volunteer requests are available with the payment of the $25.00 event fee if the membership fee structure does not apply to a particular event.
Volunteer Kamloops celebrates National Volunteer Week annually during the third week of April with the rest of Canada. The April 21, 2005 celebration witnessed a various number of agencies and individual volunteers in attendance at the Mount Paul Centre for the first annual social and dance. This format will be continued in years to follow due to the 150 attendees. All comments and recommendations to enhance the annual event will be pursued and implemented for 2008.
The Kamloops Community Resource Directory information is delivered to the community in the form of on-line communication and in hard copy format [for distribution from our administration office]. It is a comprehensive directory providing details about the programs and human services provided by many non-profit organizations and health services in Kamloops.
