Would you like to become a volunteer in one of our homes?  It is important to us and to our residents that people are willing to become volunteers to help provide support and friendship. Volunteers are a vital part of our organization, so that a greater variety of activities geared towards individual residents can be offered.

Contents

• Volunteer Program Principles

• Volunteering Ideas

• Police Clearance Certificates

Volunteer Program Principles

Volunteers increase the experiences and interactions of the residents with the community at large.

The Association:

• Welcomes and values the involvement of volunteers in all of its programs and activities.

• Believes that volunteers form an important link between the community and the residents.

• Welcomes feedback from volunteers which is helpful for resident care.

• Believes that happy volunteers help create a positive image of our Homes.

• Provides interviewing, screening and orientation for its volunteers.

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 Volunteering Ideas:

• Shopping

• Zoos

• Libraries

• Bowling

• Leisurely drives

• Museums

• Church functions

• Farm Visits

• Social visits

• Special Events

• Hiking

• Swimming

• Visiting

• Games

• Sports

• Outings

• Restaurant

Outings are subject to approval. Safety concerns must be considered carefully.

Please contact the Administration Office for more information. We have a Volunteer Handbook and appropriate forms to be completed. We also expect a Police Clearance Certificate to be submitted as outlined below.

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Police Clearance Certificates

 The non-profit sector has widely accepted volunteer screening. The challenge organizations face is how to screen, finding a practical balance between the duty to provide a safe environment and the limits of what organizations can afford to do, or have time and resources to do.

Organizations that provide programs to children and other vulnerable people must take responsible measures to protect them. The Anchor Association already has screening policies for staff and we would like to extend this to our volunteers. The Association is registered with the Niagara Regional Police and we request our volunteers to fill in our Access To Information Waiver. This form will then be dropped off at a local police department and all costs will be charged to the Anchor Association. ($15.00 for volunteers). The person involved is the only one who can pick up the document from the police station.

Once the waiver reaches the police department it takes three to six weeks to process and receive your Clearance Certificate.

Please ask for your waiver and further information at our Head Office in Beamsville:

For those living out of the region and volunteering for Anchor Camp, you will need to request the Access To Information Waiver plus a letter from the Anchor Association. That way volunteers can hand in and pick up their Clearance Certificate at a location of their choice. Each region may have different rules, but we prefer the two-sided Clearance Certificate for the vulnerable sector.

While it is not convenient to ask for clearance certificates, it is important for our organization to show we are concerned about the safety of our charges. It also is highly recommended by the insurance companies. Screening is legally required under the principle of ‘Duty of Care’

Steps:

1. Volunteer needs to sign an Access To Information Waiver Form.

   • This needs to be witnessed by a staff/ Director.

   • Volunteers for Anchor Camp may ask for this form and the letter  from the Camp Director.

2. Volunteer delivers form to police station of their choice. They can also leave them with the Executive Director or Camp Director to bring them to a police  station. 

   • Cost: $15.00 for volunteers will be reimbursed.

3. Volunteer needs to pick up their Clearance Certificate in person.