WHAT volunteers do
The main role of an Extended Families volunteer is to provide friendship and support to a child who has a disability and their family.
To do that, a volunteer commits to a minimum of 12 months to spend time with a child on a regular basis—either in the family’s home, the volunteer’s home or in a community setting—and works with the family and the Extended Families Regional Coordinator to maximize the child’s physical, emotional and developmental opportunities.
The time volunteers spend varies according to availability and family needs. Activities can include:
reading stories or playing games
going for a walk to the park
social and recreational outings
participating in school functions
assisting parents with medical appointments
Through visits, friendship and family support, a volunteer creates opportunities for a child to participate in the local community, enhance their life experiences, feel valued and, ultimately, reach their individual potential.
In support of their role, volunteers receive training, attend monthly peer group meetings and information sessions and receive a small allowance to help with expenses. Volunteers are covered by insurance while they are caring for a child and at Extended Families activities.
More information about volunteering with Extended Families is available in the
Volunteer Information Sheet and in the
Volunteer Position Description. There are a variety of resources for volunteers available on our
Links page.Extended Families also utilizes volunteers for general office support, event support and special projects. If you’re interested in volunteering with Extended Families, but not quite ready to try the companion role, why not get to know us better in another volunteer capacity first?
