Volunteering 101: How to Find the Right Role and Make It Meaningful

However you choose to volunteer, keep these tips in mind!

By Spencer van Vloten

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Did you know Vancouver's first firefighters, pictured above in black and white in 1889, were volunteers? 

Much like those first volunteers, many people today still serve their communities in incredibly impactful ways.

Volunteering is also one of the passions in my life - from cooking meals in the Downtown Eastside, to teaching newcomers sports at the YMCA, to chairing a committee dedicated to making cities more inclusive for persons with disabilities.

Why do I love volunteering?

There are many reasons why I love volunteering.

It introduced me to amazing people I never would have met, opened doors to new opportunities, and helped me grow both personally and professionally - giving me new skills and perspectives on life.

Volunteering's an incredible way to build a sense of community while making a real difference, and it's also been found to improve mental and physical health - I encourage everyone to give it a shot!

Recently the Government of Canada awarded me the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, and I was asked for tips on how to find rewarding volunteer opportunities.

So what comes to mind? Here are some tips to assist with your search, and then help you flourish once you've started volunteering.

Finding The Right Position

Finding a rewarding volunteer position is easier when you keep these tips in mind

Define your interests

What causes are you passionate about? Which organizations do you admire? What work do you want to do, and which skills are you looking to develop, if any?

Maybe you don't have an idea yet, and that is fine, but when you know the answers to these questions it makes the search easier.

You'll be able to home in on where to look for opportunities, better assess which positions align with your goals, and communicate your interests to others more effectively.

Compile your sources

Knowing where to look will save you time and prevent you from doing a scattered search in the wrong places.

It's helpful to bookmark and monitor boards that post volunteer opportunities. For where I live, that includes the City of Vancouver, VolunteerConnector, and VolunteerMatch.

If you're interested in joining a board or a committee, CharityVillage and CARBO are particularly helpful.

Also consider creating a list of groups that do work you're interested in, and check their websites or read their newsletters for opportunities. Signing up for alerts or mailing lists can help you stay on top of new roles.

Ask around 

Sometimes people begin to volunteer not because they searched out an opportunity, but because one presented itself. For example, a friend invited them along to a fundraiser, or a coworker asked if they’d help out at a community event.

Building on this, ask friends, colleagues, and family if they know of any groups looking for volunteers - maybe you can even join them. Word of mouth can lead you to opportunities you wouldn't have found otherwise.

Try new things

When you experiment with different activities, even just for recreation, you start to notice what energizes you and what doesn’t; what you want to experience more of, and what you might not want to try again.

So try new things in your personal life - it will help you choose a volunteer role that matches your interests, making it more fulfilling in the long run.

Start with a trial

Perhaps you're unsure about an opportunity, and you're worried that you'll be committing to something you end up not enjoying.

Be upfront and ask to start with a shift or two. Not only will this give you a better sense of whether it's a good fit, but the organization will much prefer this to you committing to a longer-term only to crash out.

Most importantly: don't limit yourself to what's already out there!

This last point has been so important for me.

Often I didn't apply to a specific posting, but I essentially created an opening for myself by simply asking.

Many organizations, even if they have nothing posted, are happy to welcome a volunteer who is eager to help. If you're enthusiastic about getting involved with a particular organization or cause, reach out and express your desire to help. 

Once You've Started

You've started volunteering - now what?

Okay, you've landed that position you were after, but that's just the start of the journey.

There are many things to keep in mind once you're volunteering.

Reflect and assess

You should reflect at all stages of your volunteering journey. Are you enjoying it? Are you learning what you wanted to? Are your time and energy being respected? What’s working for you and what could benefit from being changed?

Reflecting is a great way to assess whether the role is still right for you, and how to tailor it to ensure it fits the best it can.

Don't be afraid to ask about new things

As you progress as a volunteer, there may be new things you want to try. For example, maybe you want to take on more of a leadership capacity or switch to a more hands-on, or hands-off position

Don't be afraid to ask about taking on new tasks or learning new skills. Program coordinators are happy to have volunteers who are excited to take on different roles and responsibilities.

Invite someone

Just as a friend may invite you at some point to volunteer, you can be the one to get people involved.

Inviting a friend, family member, or colleague to volunteer with you is a great way to have some extra fun while giving back to your community. It can spark important conversations, deepen your understanding of issues, and inspire others to make volunteering an ongoing part of their lives.

Don't overextend

One problem I've run into, and seen many others face as well, is overextension. You have a passion for helping, and as a result you take on more and more hours, extra days, and additional roles.

While it's great to be highly involved, being too busy can also be exhausting, cause you to lose passion, and in turn make it harder for you to give back as a volunteer.

So don't pick up everything at once. Start slow and scale up your involvement if you want to and have the capacity, and don't be afraid to say no to an extra shift or to ask for a day off. Be kind to yourself!

Remember you run the show

You're giving a gift, not paying a debt. 

Don't feel pressured into doing things you're not comfortable with. You should never find yourself in a position where you're taking shifts out of guilt, don't feel welcomed or respected, or no longer enjoy it.

In Closing: Go For It!

Every time I’ve volunteered, I’ve walked away feeling more connected, more grateful, and more inspired.

The people you meet, the stories you hear, and the work you do will stay with you long after the task is over.

So, take a chance on volunteering—it might surprise you how much it enriches your life and the lives of those around you.

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To find more community resources, click here! Also feel free to email me at spencer@bcdisability.com

-Spencer van Vloten