Volunteer

BUILDING CAPACITY IN OUR COMMUNITY

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Calgary Outlink!

Volunteer applications are currently closed and will reopen late winter/early spring 2024.

Support Line Volunteers

Outlink has been piloting a non-crisis peer support line offering resources, information, and support to 2SLGBTQ+ community members in Calgary. Volunteers provide support through phone calls and text and chat conversations. This is a remote opportunity, so folks can volunteer right from home!

How it works:

Volunteers answer calls on their own phones and text and chat conversations through our software. Because calls and conversations come through our software, your phone number won't be given out to anyone!

The support line operates Monday-Thursday from 5-9pm. Shifts are one hour long each. Volunteers are on-call for their shift and taking calls and responding to messages as needed. Debriefing is available either with Outlink staff or fellow volunteers if needed.

The commitment will be 4-10 hours per month. This works out to 1-2 hours per week depending on the month. Further details about the structure of the commitment will be determined after volunteer training, once we know how many volunteers we have. If you're not able to fulfill this requirement but want to volunteer on the line, please contact Zak, the Manager of Volunteers and Programming, at zak@calgaryoutlink.ca. We'd still love to have you!

If you're interested in being a peer support line volunteer:

You are age 18+

You're a friendly human who wants to connect with, support, and hold space for fellow community members of various identities and backgrounds

You're comfortable supporting folks with various issues (you will receive training on these)

You're comfortable supporting someone through talking on the phone and typing or want to work towards being more comfortable

You can commit to volunteering with us for 6 months (January-June 2024) for 4-10 hours per month

You have consistent access to a phone, internet, and a device with a browser

You can attend a mandatory 30 hour training with multiple sessions throughout October and November 2023*

Group Facilitators

Facilitator volunteers run our Community Groups. Please see our Groups page for more information about the groups we offer.

If you're interested in being a peer facilitator:

You are age 18+

You want to learn how to facilitate a group or want to build your facilitation skills

You want to contribute to supporting and holding space for 2SLGBTQ+ communities

You can commit to volunteering with us for 6 months from January-June 2024. Facilitation commitment will vary depending on which group you facilitate (between 2-5 hours/month)

Have access to the internet and a device with a camera and audio **see note below

You are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 ***see note below

You are able to provide a police check with a vulnerable sector check if involved with our Inside Out Youth Group (we will cover the cost)

You can attend a mandatory 30 hour training with multiple sessions throughout October and November 2023*

**Groups are currently held online and in-person

***Facilitators who are running in-person groups are required to provide proof of vaccination against Covid-19

Peer Mentors

To find out more about our Mentorship Program, please click here.

If you are interested in being a mentor:

You’re age 25+

You can be a mentor for 6 months (January-June 2024) - if not matched this time you have the option of volunteering in another role at Outlink and/or re-applying in the future

You want to have a positive impact on someone’s life

You feel that you have good communication skills or are working at it

You consider yourself to be friendly and approachable

You’re willing to provide a police check with vulnerable sector search if mentoring a minor (we will cover the cost)

You will adhere to any COVID safety protocols in place through Outlink

You can attend a mandatory 30 hour training with multiple sessions throughout October and November 2023*

*See note below about volunteer training

While we are seeking mentors of all diverse identities and backgrounds, we are looking for more applicants of the following (based on prior and current need):

Trans and non-binary folks who are open to sharing insight into identity, transitioning, and coming out
Gay/bi/pan/queer men who have experience with navigating identity and community
Folks who have navigated immigrating to Canada
Folks who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of colour

*NOTE ABOUT VOLUNTEER TRAINING:

Sessions will be held on most Tuesday evenings and Saturdays during the day from mid-October to mid-November. Evening sessions will be 2 hours max.

While training sessions are mandatory, we recognize that things may come up that are out of your control. If you miss two sessions, we will follow up with you, and you may be asked to re-evaluate your ability to commit to our volunteer program. Missing more than two sessions may result in you being asked to no longer participate in this round of our training program.

If you have any questions about our volunteer program, please contact zak@calgaryoutlink.ca.