Volunteer
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Make a difference where you live.
For over one hundred years, Alex House has had a mission to help empower people to build and nurture our community and one another. Since we first opened our doors, there has been one fact which has always remained true: we could not fulfill our mission without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers.
For years, we’ve seen incredible volunteers dedicate their time and skills to help our non-profit organization pursue and achieve our mission. These selfless individuals donate their time and share their skills, discover new talents, form friendships, and get a front row seat to all of the amazing things going on in our community. At Alex House, our staff and volunteers work closely to bring our values to life through our programs and services.
Together we can make our BC communities a better place for everyone.
A volunteer is anyone who does unpaid work—including practicum students and interns—both adults and youth, regardless of the amount of time they contribute. Some folks volunteer a couple of hours on a weekend while others volunteer a few hours a month towards an ongoing program like facilitating a group, or helping serve food at a community lunch. Others contribute time every week, consistently showing up to help with ongoing maintenance or administration needs. Volunteering can take many shapes.
If you’re generously giving your time to support our mission, we want to make sure that you have a rewarding and memorable experience. That’s why we work with interested volunteers to find activities and times that benefit everyone. When you apply, we’ll arrange a 30-minute interview to help you find a role that works for you and your schedule.
Some examples of volunteer activities include: supporting community events, leading activities or workshops, helping to maintain our buildings and grounds, supporting administrative operations, engaging with child care, and so much more!
Apply to be a volunteer. >
Apply to be a volunteer with Alex House.
Our Youth and Family programs offer an exciting opportunity for post-secondary students to gain direct experience in day-to-day youth programs, outreach and community work, and to share their skills and passion for working with youth and their families.
We integrate a youth-focused, harm reduction and trauma-informed approach to our work, seeing people as the experts in their own lives and walking alongside to support them.
Please also see the About Us section of the Alex House website for more information about Neighbourhood Houses, our social justice approach and our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
We typically have 1 to 2 spots each semester for post-secondary students in the fields of Child and Youth Care, Social Work, Youth Justice and related fields of study.
If you are interested in being considered for a practicum placement with our program, please speak to your school practicum placement advisor first.
For all prospective students, we require:
-current resume
-cover letter
-the number of hours you are needing to complete
-the timeframe for completion (i.e. May-August)
-availability for afternoon and evening shifts during the week
Pending program capacity, students considered for a placement will be invited to a site visit and meeting with program coordinators to determine if the practicum will be a suitable and compatible placement for all parties.
We thank everyone for their interest in completing a practicum placement with our Youth & Family Programs, and wish all students success in their educational pursuits.
Contact us by Email at reconnect@alexhouse.net with regards to prospective practicum opportunities in Youth & Family Programs.
Practicum Student Placements
Youth PARTICIPANT volunteer opportunities
At the Youth Space, participant volunteers have the opportunity to share their ideas of what they would like to do and how they would like to be involved. Youth volunteers have organized, hosted and led book clubs, doodle dens, cooking groups, gardening, open-mic nights, Holiday Dinners and Pride Prom! As well as supporting with fundraising, grant-writing, poster-making, blogging and community networking. There are also opportunities to mentor and lead activities for younger youth.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Youth Space! We are currently updating our volunteer program to improve the experience for all participants. As a result, we are not accepting new volunteer applications at this time. This pause will allow us to address our current list of volunteer requests and roll out a new orientation package to enhance your onboarding success.
We anticipate reopening applications in the new year and look forward to welcoming new volunteers. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to make these improvements. Please check back with us in early 2025 for updates on when applications will resume.
Thank you again for your interest in making a difference with us!