Volunteer FAQs

There are different ways to start this process. You can call the office and make an appointment to see the Volunteer Coordinator.

Contact our office by telephone or by submitting a Volunteer Application through our website. Our Volunteer Coordinator will connect with you by phone for a preliminary interview and to provide instructions on how to obtain the appropriate level of police check for your program of interest. Once complete, you will attend the office for an in-person Volunteer or Brokered Worker Orientation

You will meet with the Volunteer Coordinator to review your paperwork. You will be provided with a copy of the Orientation booklet and the Volunteer Coordinator will review the information with you. You will be asked to sign consent forms and provide the name of at least two references that can be contacted. You will need to provide a copy of your drivers’ licence and vehicle insurance if required for the role you are applying for.

Please bring your drivers’ licence and current car insurance if you are applying for a role that involves driving. They will be photocopied for your file. Bring the names and contact information for an emergency contact. You will also need to provide at least two work or personal references; these should not be immediate family or persons who reside in your household. If you have any certifications (PSW, First Aid, CPR, etc.) please bring that as well. This is helpful if you are looking to do some Brokered Work with our agency.

Our clientele, seniors and adults with physical limitations, are considered a vulnerable population. It is therefore required that everyone who volunteers or provides Brokered Work with us has a recent Vulnerable Sector Check on file. Record checks within the past 3 months of the day that you come in for orientation are considered acceptable. Volunteers who help only with our fundraisers, such as the thrift store, do not require a PVSC. A regular police check is sufficient in this case.

If you live in Belleville (including Corbyville, Foxboro, Plainfield, Roslin and Thurlow) you can apply online following the link on the Belleville Police Services website, under “Services” and “Criminal Record Checks”. The Police Department encourages people to apply online. They have set up a computer in their lobby for people to use if they don’t have access to one of their own. If you are a volunteer, there will be a $20.00 cost for applying for a PVSC check. You will be required to upload a letter from our organization that states you require the PVSC for volunteer purposes. This will be provided by our Volunteer Coordinator.

Once the PVSC has been processed, it will be emailed directly to you, or it can be picked up at the police station. The police do not send us a copy of your PVSC, you receive the only one. We require you to forward it to our office so that we can review it.

If you live in an OPP-serviced jurisdiction, you must apply for your PVSC online through the OPP website. The Volunteer Coordinator will provide guidance on this. There is no cost for applicants applying for a PVSC for volunteer purposes. You will be required to upload a letter from our organization that states you require the PVSC for volunteer purposes. This will also be provided by our Volunteer Coordinator. Once the PVSC has been processed, it will be emailed directly to you. The police do not send us a copy of your PVSC, you receive the only one. We require you to forward it to our office so that we can review it.

 

Once these steps have been completed and the PVSC is considered satisfactory by the Volunteer Coordinator, your references will be checked by our staff.  Once your file is complete, it will be passed on to the Service Coordinator in charge of the program that you want to volunteer with. You will then be contacted to arrange for specific orientation and scheduling within that program. In most cases you will shadow an experienced volunteer or staff member until you are comfortable with your volunteer assignment.