Volunteers

NEW VOLUNTEERS

…are always needed

We are proud to offer sport training and competition opportunities to members of our community with an intellectual disability. If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer experience please inquire using the contact information listed below. Be a part of something special – volunteer!

Current Needs!

We are currently recruiting for two open board positions - Fundraising Coordinator, and Volunteer Coordinator. Job descriptions can be sent to you by request. For more information please contact Community Coordinator Lisa Carlson at dufferin@specialolympicsontario.ca.

We also are in need of coaches to join existing programs, or to start new sports throughout the year. If interested in coaching and starting a sport please contact the community coordinator.

Who Can Volunteer?

Special Olympics volunteers should have the following attributes:

    • enthusiastic, highly motivated individual who has excellent interpersonal and communication skills

    • high integrity, are passionate about helping others, and believe in the vision of Special Olympics Ontario

    • interested in assisting in the growth of Special Olympics in the Dufferin area and making a difference in the lives of others

What volunteering means?

Volunteering brings out the best in everyone. Volunteers act as coaches and organizers, helping our athletes improve their level of physical skill.

The volunteers of the Dufferin Community encourage athletes with an intellectual disability to participate and compete in sports. They organize activities year round to meet the seasonal needs of the athletes.

Volunteering means something different for each person involved with Special Olympics. As one volunteer said, “every time I see the smile on the face of a Special Olympics Athlete, it makes the time put into volunteering well worth the effort”.

Being a trained coach in one of our sports or volunteering to help in a Special Olympics program would be a very rewarding experience for both you and the athletes. Training programs are offered on a regular basis to help develop coaching skills.

In addition, we are always in need of “behind the scenes” volunteers. Fund-raising, sport program coordination, special event organization, and other vital administrative tasks are all performed by volunteers. These positions help to ensure that Special Olympics Dufferin athletes enjoy regular practices and competitions in their favourite sports.

Benefits

    • Have the opportunity to experience and help athletes with an intellectual disability achieve their goals and reach their full potential

    • Improve your coaching and/or administrative skills

    • Meet new people and contacts

    • Participate in recognition events

    • Pursue training and continuing education

    • Stay active in sport

    • Use your skills to help others

    • Add meaningful experience to your resume

What do the volunteer opportunities involve?

Program volunteers and coaches:

    • provide training for athletes in any of our different sports

    • work with athletes to improve basic motor skills and teach sport-specific skills

    • prepare athletes for competitions

    • commit about 1-2 hours weekly

    • commit some weekends for competitions

    • Be a part of athletes achieving their goals and capture the spirit of Special Olympics!

Please refer to the coaches page for more details on various volunteer positions.

Event Volunteering

    • Experience the energy of a Special Olympics event!

    • Spend an exciting day at a competition timing races, measuring long jumps, serving lunches, fundraising, and much more!

Administrative Volunteer

    • Share your expertise and talents on a planning committee

    • Gain new leadership and organizational skills, or utilize your creative side in organizing on a fund raising event or competition

    • Gain skills in fundraising, budgets, planning, coordinating and much more…

Other

We also welcome volunteers with professional skills that can help us match possible needs in the organization:

    • Photographers

    • Singers

    • Graphic designers

    • Medical Experts

    • etc…

If you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer please contact the community coordinator.