Volunteer

• Option A: If you’re comfortable registering directly on the website, go to MyImpactPage.com to setup a profile through your phone or web browser: http://bttr.im/4jody

• Option B: You can also email Lukayo (lukayo@kindspace.ca) and set up an interview where a Kind Space staffer or volunteer will fill out your profile for you. This option is best if there are any questions you have about the application form.

• Option C: A Kind Space staffer or volunteer can fill out your profile for you if you email an audio or video clip to Lukayo (lukayo@kindspace.ca) that has all the answers to the following questions: 

Kind Space Volunteer Application Form Questions (for Audio & Video Clips)

Please remember to speak slowly and clearly, and if needed, spell things out slowly and clearly, like your name, address, email, number, social media handles, the names of your emergency contact, and other unique and important information.

1. What’s your name? 
2. How do we get a hold of you? Please spell out your address, email, and phone number.
3. What’s your birth date?
4. Any social media handles you’d like to link to your volunteer account?
5. What’s your availability? Mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends? Specific days of the week?
6. What Volunteer House are you interested in (Phoenix, Dragon, Griffin, Unicorn, Merfolk)? Or, list all your volunteer interests (and add more if they’re not on the list):
• Reception
•  Maintenance & Decor
•  Workshop Planning
• Group Facilitation
•  Special Events Assistance
•  Organizational Strategy
• Emotional Support Work
•  Policy & By-Laws
•  Financial Responsibility
7. Are there other languages that you speak besides English?
8. Why are you interested in volunteering with us?
9. Please give us the name and contact info of an Emergency Contact.
10. What are your access needs and accommodations requests?
11. What’s your learning style?
12. Describe any relevant professional or volunteer experience you have, and your work place if you want to.
13. Are there a specific amount of hours to have to complete? If so, what are the details of that, like how much, why are they required, when do they need to be done, who is your supervisor and how do we contact them?

Since we are a community centre that works with marginalized and vulnerable populations and are covered by insurance, we are required to have folks that volunteer in programs that work specifically with youth and/or in a one-on-one position of power to get a vulnerable sector records check. 

To be clear, police checks are security theater and do not give an accurate, holistic assessment of a person and may, in fact, disclose records that go beyond criminal conviction. It is also important to note that our communities are disportionately criminalized and being asked to interact with the police can cause harm and unnecessary trauma. Having a record or conviction does not automatically exclude you from volunteering however we will need to have a conversation should something come up.

Police checks can be done online (partially if you don’t have access to your credit information or fully if you do) and we can email you a volunteer letter and reimburse you for any processing fees. 

If you would like to volunteer in any of the following areas you will need a police check:

• QTY or CafeQ
• Board of Directors
• Walk Home program
• Every Body Swim
• Shaping Parenthood (child care)
• Support work

Go here to start your police check.

More information

• What are police checks?

Kind Space has 5 types of volunteers:

• Board Members (House Phoenix)
• Group Facilitators (House Dragon)
• Administrative Support (House Griffin)
• Office Workers (House Unicorn)
• Special Events Assistants (House Merfolk)

Based on your volunteer profile that was set up when you registered, you will be sorted into one or more roles.

Note: Potential Board Members must go through an additional application process.

• House Phoenix is known for their ability to look at the larger view since they stick around for a long time and can fly above all the details. They see multiple years of strategy, and multiple policies that get to the heart of Kind Space. They have a strong sense of integrity and responsibility, as they are in charge of Kind Space financially, and evaluate the strength of House Fairy (Kind Space staff). They also commit to monthly meetings.
• House Dragon mixes the traits of both Western and Eastern dragons– they fiercely guard the treasure and secrets of the group they facilitate, while also using their wisdom and generosity to shower the group members with support and care. They are reliable and consistent, showing up to weekly or monthly meetups to welcome members to group. They have a strong sense of compassion and boundaries, as they are in charge of holding space for anyone who needs access to the group they facilitate.
• House Griffin is both lion and eagle, and it shows. Their leonine tendencies make them a good support for House Dragon, as they also can hold space for group members feelings and needs when they come up during group. But their aquiline nature gives them more flexibility– while House Dragon needs to focus on anchoring the group, those from House Griffin can support a group member who needs to leave the main space to talk to someone in a separate space. Additionally, House Griffin uses their wings to search for workshop presenters or other fun things requested by Kind Space group members.
• House Unicorn has a purity of purpose– they just want to help and care for Kind Space. They do this in two main ways: wandering the grounds to keep it tidy and listening for the call of a traveler who wants to enter. Because of their wildness, they have a lot of flexibility as to when they appear in the space, but when they do, it is graced with their presence and attention. They have a strong sense of dedication and loyalty.
• House Merfolk can exist in two worlds, but due to mostly being busy in one of them, they only have a limited time to spend with Kind Space. Because of this, events like Pride, the Annual General Meeting, or other yearly and rare occurrences are there most common attractions. They are flexible and generous, whether they’re helping to set up, greeting people to the space, or giving out information about Kind.

Depending on what volunteer House you’re sorted in, you’ll be given different types of orientation and training.

• Typically, House Phoenix attends a yearly orientation retreat with House Fairy that covers policies and responsibilities, with the material adapted to multiple learning styles. This orientation retreat also serves to get to know each other and the heart of Kind Space, with activities that encompass the mind, the heart, the body, and the spirit.
• House Dragon and House Griffin go through extensive training that can be done as a group, one-on-one with a member of House Fairy, or individually with videos and webinars. Through your volunteer profile, House Fairy will determine the best way to tailor your learning experience to your strengths and access needs. Training will also attempt to be (w)holistic (mind, body, heart, spirit) while covering conflict resolution, anti-oppression, leadership, trauma, suicide prevention/intervention, ASIST, mental health first aid, and first aid. 
• House Unicorn and House Merfolk go through an orientation as a group or one-on-one with a member of House Fairy. They have access to the same training as Houses Dragon and Griffin if they want, but also they can have a specific orientation experience geared towards their access needs and strengths on the topics that are most relevant to them in their vision of care and support for Kind Space.

All training, regardless of House, will have an accountability plan created as part of signing the Code of Conduct during orientation. The Code of Conduct describes the needs and boundaries of Kind Space regarding our volunteers, and the accountability plan is created between each volunteer and House Fairy about what is the best way to approach and to re-align a volunteer when they are not acting according to the Code of Conduct.

• House Fairy will set up regular check-ins with each of the volunteer Houses through Slack or a mass email.
• Monthly check-ins from House Fairy will also occur in person, where volunteers can receive gift cards in appreciation for their ongoing work with Kind Space.
• For anonymous feedback, volunteers are encouraged to post them through the Kind Space tumblr (https://kindspace.tumblr.com/ask). 
• Individual emails to specific volunteers will also be sent out in accordance with their accountability plans.
• Every quarter (three months), a feast will be held for all four volunteer Houses, with team-building activities, games, prizes, entertainment, and paperwork! The paperwork involves an evaluation form regarding their experience so far as a volunteer of Kind Space, and any feedback they have towards House Fairy or to each other. House Fairy will endeavour to turn all paperwork into a game with a prize as much as possible.