Volunteers

Although Sanctuary has two full-time staff, we couldn't do much for the kids without our volunteers . They give up their time one day a week for a few hours at a time. With more volunteers there is more chance of having one on one time with the children. The children are at the age where they are interested in everything and one on one time gives you the chance to help guide the children and answer their questions.

Our volunteers bring a wide variety of skills and activities to our children.  We have volunteers for special activities like gymn night, pottery lab, and helping at a horse stable.  Bring your ideas and talk to Ken. 

Some volunteers bring craft ideas to do with the children, and some just hang out and play games with the children or help them with homework.  Having these volunteers at Sanctuary also allows Ken to go offsite to play tennis, go biking, etc. with groups. We always need adult volunteers to just take kids to the park or for walks around town as well.

We also need people to be involved at many different levels such as

• Donating baking
• Tutoring
• Reading Aloud
• Sharing Life Skills
• Sharing hobbies
• Sports
• Add your own interests

Feel free to look at our volunteer manual and application form to see if this is where you would like to volunteer. If you have any questions feel free to contact Ken at Sanctuary during our operating hours.

Here is a little bit of our volunteer manual for you to read. This is just a summary of each area to get the full version contact Ken at Sanctuary.

• NO FIGHTS - Words, Fists, or whatever
• NO bad language or gestures
• NO put-downs or teasing
• HEAR and RESPECT Sanctuary Volunteers

and yes, we can get warnings too!

We keep Sanctuary safe through a series of warnings. Three warnings, and the next warning YOU'RE OUT. Except for put-downs, teasing, and violence we will often give a pre warning. If you feel the child is manipulating you then err on the side of giving a warning If the child is on last warning and we feel there's a good chance of them doing better, we will sometimes let the child 'work off the warning'. If someone is kicked out let the coordinator know. We try to make sure someone is home before they go. If they really can't go home then we will let them stay but:

1. They can't come the next day
2. Any more warnings mean extra days out

We provide an after school snack for all children and a simple supper for those who choose to stay. The snack is sometimes provided on a volunteers basis by various churches in the area and should be healthy food instead of high calorie snacks. If a volunteer has a recipe they would like to use with the children, they should contact the coordinator to arrange a time and for any ingredients which they might need. Parents are always welcome to join their children for a meal.

Since we are a drop in centre, scheduling activities is sometimes difficult. Our basic activities are games, homework help, meal prep, videos, computers, and puzzles. Volunteers are encouraged to bring any ideas, which they would like to do with the children during their shift.

children who want to be here and are over the age of 12 must br Junior Volunteers. Jr .Volunteers must be "ASS-ETS". So feel free to use them to assist in any way you can think of - they need to be needed. They only get one warning. Jr. volunteers can't smoke, drink alcohol, or do drugs even outside of Sanctuary since they are role models here. They also can't try to sell items to children or do anything which might remotely take advantage of them.

NO tolerance. If a volunteers suspects a child is "under the influence", they should tel the coordinator immediately and appropriate action will be taken.

No smoking on premises. Volunteers of legal age may smoke away from the premises after they have let the coordinator know that they need a smoke break.

Verbal abuse will not be tolerated. If gentle reminding doesn't work then the child should be given a warning and discipline protocols have begun. Whenever possible try to dialogue with the abuser about this.

THE OFFICE - will always remain locked unless a volunteer is in it. Even then only the children who need to be there with the volunteers should be inside.
KITCHEN - children should only be behind the counter when an Lu-Anne (our nutrition manager) is present and should ask before getting food, except snacks on the counter.
THE BACK DOOR - should always be unlocked but should be used only for a fire exit or adult smoking area.
BASEMENT - No admittance except with a volunteer.
CRAFT STORAGE ROOM - No admittance except with a volunteer.
FRONT - When a child leaves they are not allowed back without a parent's permission. Ken knows which children are allowed and which aren't so just ask.

We are a "drop-in centre" so our responsibilities end at the door whenever possible. However at closing, if a child had nowhere to go we can't just leave them outside.

1. Phone their home and alternate number (if phone numbers are available)
2. Can the child walk home? (Does their parents expect them to walk home?)
3. If their parent is coming to pick them up then they can wait outside, during cleanup, but the parents need to be reminded of their responsibilities to pick their child up on time
4. If the Sanctuary workers feel that it is unsafe for the child to walk home, or the child seems abnormally afraid, then they may opt to drive the child home .Whenever possible, two workers should do this. The parent and the child must be told this is a one time deal.
5. If there is no one home (or the workers do not feel it is safe to leave the child at home), then ask if the child if there is an alternate home where they can stay.
6. If there is, assess the safety of the situation, and if appropriate, leave the child there.
7. If there is no safe place to leave the child, bring them back to Sanctuary and phone for a Social Worker to pick the child up. (Zenith 1234)

Immediately inform the coordinator of your suspicions, make the child feel safe and reassure the child that they did the right thing.

Here is a copy of the Child Protection act for you to download and read.

Click here

Here is a copy of our Confidentiality Contract and our Volunteer Application

Click here