PIN - The People and Information Network

They are so helpful and positive

The Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington has played a key role in creating a strong, vibrant community in Guelph for almost 15 years, connecting residents and organizations with each other. The Centre is the “go-to” place for community benefit organizations seeking volunteers; youth and adults seeking opportunities to engage in their community as volunteers; training and support for volunteer managers and board members; and information about community services. I’m proud to live and volunteer in Canada’s most caring community!

I recently graduated high school in Guelph, ON. As an Ontario grad, I was to complete 40 hours of community work to graduate. In grade nine I started looking at different opportunities within the City of Guelph I could potentially volunteer at to fulfill my requirement. I was told by a guidance counsellor about The Volunteer Centre of Guelph and Wellington. That summer after grade nine ended, I volunteered with Bracelet of Hope. I started my grade ten year of high school as a regular volunteer for Homewood Mental Health Centre and stayed a volunteer for three years. I was also able to volunteer in Labour Day picnics, Guelph Jazz Festivals and other opportunities that gave me experience. I really loved what I was doing and learned that it was more than just getting the 40 hours done, its about helping and feeling good about it. I did too grow myself and I learned that by volunteering and being selfless, I felt GOOD. This organization is the key to the social development of youth in the community as it connects so many young people to so many opportunities where they get to meet and interact with new people and the people of our community. Having an organization where you can advertise opportunities and where you can go to find opportunities to help is a very well deserved organization that brings people together. Volunteer work is very important in our lives as it teaches us to learn to put others before ourself. So for teaching me that just helping out can be fun and can make you feel good on the inside, Thank you!

The Volunteer Centre provides community benefit organizations and individuals with essential information and services about volunteering and community information.Potential volunteers can drop in, call or email for one-to-one referrals to organizations needing volunteer support to run their programs.Organizations, like mine, can access the latest research and resources related to volunteer management and board governance. They can also join the Volunteer Managers’ Network to share experiences with their peers AND members can increase recruitment of volunteers through their database, recruitment ads and radio spots - these really boost the profile of my organization.Thanks to the Volunteer Centre for their contributions to our community!

The Volunteer Centre of Guelph Wellington does more than just matching volunteers with meaningful experiences, they also help to develop capacity within their member organizations. I’ve had the privilege of seeing the good work that the Volunteer Centre does in helping Volunteer Mangers, who work in various non-profits in the region, learn how to improve volunteer engagement and retain volunteers through the workshops that they offer. Volunteer screening and other essential knowledge for volunteer managers can only come from organizations whose business it is to create and maintain volunteer experiences.The VC of GW is one of the most value-creating, but taken-for-granted charities in the area. Without volunteers, and the ability to manage those volunteers, the community benefit sector would grind to a halt, and the Volunteer Centre is the hub for all things related to volunteerism in Guelph/Wellington.

One “unsung” contribution of Guelph’s Volunteer Centre is the community information they provide for people looking for essential services and supports. Frequently, citizens don’t know how to navigate the twists and turns of the many agencies providing everything and anything from housing and food assistance, child or elder care, or advice on managing household finances or assistance with a disabled child. This information is always at our fingertips and up to date, thanks to the Volunteer Centre. The online database is invaluable, and the level of support and time giving to people who phone in is often well over and above the requirements. Furthermore, they have gained expertise in mining this data to create specific, highly targeted directories and databases to serve the needs of community organizations… an invaluable, time-saving support.I can only imagine the amount of work involved in maintaining an up-to-date contact and information database of thousands of organizations where names, addresses and contact details change on a constant basis. It boggles the mind!

People here go the extra mile to help you.

Driving success in the not-for-profit sector:The Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington plays such a important role in the not-for-profit sector in Guelph/Wellington, and is a key reason why many promote Guelph as “the most caring community in Canada.” This lofty claim came from a study which found a very high rate of volunteerism in our community. So many organizations are impacted by the great work done by the Volunteer Centre, including such things as coordinating volunteer recruitment efforts, providing support to volunteer managers, promoting best practices in volunteer screening, and so much more. The organization really is a very significant contributor to the quality of life we enjoy in Guelph/Wellington.