Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in Blind Beginnings. Volunteers are essential to the continued growth of this unique organization. There are many ways you can help us to achieve our vision of a world where children and youth who are blind or visually impaired reach their full potential.

Volunteer Positions  

Chaperones
Chaperones are required occasionally throughout the year during children or youth workshops and training programs. For example, our Youth Leadership Network consists of a 3-day training workshop where youth stay in a hotel. Chaperones are needed during the day to assist youth during mealtimes and overnight at the hotel in case of emergency.

Club Volunteers
These volunteers provide a club for blind and visually impaired children and their sighted siblings the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to noon in New Westminster. Club volunteers should be energetic, enthusiastic, friendly, outgoing, creative, and enjoy children. First Aid training and abilities in sports, music, and crafts are an asset.

Youth Leaders
Youth Leaders must be blind or visually impaired, members of Blind Beginnings, and must complete the Youth Leadership Training offered once a year through Blind Beginnings. Once trained these volunteers will be expected to be mentors to younger children, do presentations in their schools or communities, and/or assist with the planning of group activities and special events.

Support Parents
Support Parents must be a parent of a child or youth who is blind or visually impaired, adjusted to their child’s visual impairment, and a member of Blind Beginnings. These parents will be expected to complete a 3-day training program. Once trained these parents will be  paired with parents new to raising a blind child and will be expected to offer support and resources, do presentations in their communities, and/or assist with
special events, Support Groups, etc.

Office Volunteers
These volunteers will assist with the day-to-day operation of the organization. Duties may include; answering the phone, filing, booking flights, ordering supplies, processing registrations, notetaking, research, bookkeeping, etc. Office Volunteers are required on a weekly basis.

Special Event Volunteers
These volunteers assist with fundraisers and events that take place periodically throughout the year. Duties may include; providing information, selling T-shirts, requesting auction items, washing cars, collating media packages, making phone calls, etc.

Board Members
These leadership volunteers must be members of Blind Beginnings. A minimum of 60 percent of our Board must be blind or visually impaired or a family member of a child/youth who is blind or visually impaired. It is expected that Board members attend 2 hour meetings once a month and be willing to do 1-3 additional hours of work between meetings. Expertise in fundraising, event planning, accounting, public relations, marketing, human resources, or communications is an asset.

Two Steps to Volunteer

1. All volunteers working directly with children and youth must under go a criminal record check. Please download our Criminal Record Letter PDF, complete and take to your local police station. Be sure to take photo ID with your form. Some community police stations only provide criminal record checks on certain days so you might want to call ahead. If there is a cost for the criminal record check, save your receipt and Blind Beginnings will reimburse you.
   
   
2. Complete our online Volunteer Application.