Crisis Line & Support Circle Volunteer Training

Learn more about our 12 week training program

Volunteer at Salal

 “Salal’s Volunteer Training gave me the gift of language and…taught me how to use love and compassion to resolve conflict, hold safer spaces, hold pain, see strength, see resistance, and with all of this support others.” 

Salal’s unique Volunteer Training is offered free of charge in exchange for a one-year commitment of volunteering. Within this training program, volunteers can expect to learn how to support the survivors we serve from a feminist, anti-oppressive, and decolonizing framework in a generative space where we center values such as respect, vulnerability, and responsibility. This training also aims to equip volunteers with new skills and nurture a sense of community. We know that we cannot do this work in isolation.

It is important to note that this training is a searching experience and requires personal exploration on behalf of the volunteer. Throughout the 12-weeks, we delve into topics such as colonization, ableism, racism and white supremacy, transphobia, childhood sexual abuse, and rape culture. This can be a challenging process and involve sitting with both discomfort and grief. We ask that applicants reflect on whether this feels like the right time to engage in this program before applying. All interviews and training will be held virtually via Zoom.

Why Volunteer at Salal?

  • We Train You – 12 Week, Virtual Training Provided!
    • Workshop topics include culture of violence, decolonization, supporting Sex Workers and more
  • Remote Volunteer Opportunities Available
    • Support survivors from home!
  • Gain Feminist Support Skills
  • Lived Experience is Valued

Our Volunteer Program is open to women, trans, nonbinary, Two-Spirit and gender diverse folks.

Application Process

We are looking for volunteers who are committed to growth and learning, inclusivity, and walking alongside survivors as they seek healing and justice. We are interested in hearing stories from applicants about how you embody who you say you are. That is, the experiences that you have had and the beliefs that you hold that you feel would make you a good fit for this program. No previous education or volunteer/professional experience is required.

Successful applicants will be contacted for an interview, held virtually. Though we honour the time and effort that folks dedicate to their applications, those that are not short-listed will not be kept on file by Salal. We absolutely encourage these folks to reapply in the future.

At this time our volunteer positions are open to people of marginalized genders – women, trans, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, and gender diverse folks – who are 19+. Applicants who are selected for an interview must also be willing to provide two references before the start of training. Those that are welcomed into the training must submit a Criminal Record Check prior to starting on the Crisis Line. If you have accessed Salal’s services in the past, we ask that you wait 3 years after that process before applying.

Volunteer Commitment

Salal’s 12-week Volunteer Training is offered twice a year, beginning in January or September, and is held in the evenings, twice a week. Volunteers will also be required to engage in 8 – 16 additional hours of training wherein they work alongside a Salal staff member to practice taking crisis calls and explore the volunteer’s readiness to move onto the line. These additional hours are scheduled depending on the volunteer’s availability. In order to successfully graduate from training, volunteers must miss no more than 3 full sessions or 13 hours of training.

Upon successfully completing training, we ask that volunteers commit to a minimum of one-year and approximately 8 hours/week. This amounts to 400 hours in total. These hours can also be fulfilled by volunteering in other areas of the organization including support circles, outreach, and fundraising.

Lastly, volunteers are expected to engage in one-on-one supervision with the Volunteer Coordinator as needed and attend Monthly Volunteer Meetings, which are held on the first Wednesday of every month from 5:30 – 8:00pm. The purpose of these practices is to support your wellness and growth in the work. These meetings allow for volunteers to share stories, offer and receive support in relation to our work, and engage in collective care. Volunteers also deserve to be witnessed in all of the brilliant ways in which they show up for survivors, which is possible when we come together as a team.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Salal’s Volunteer Coordinator at 604-255-6228 ext. 222 or volunteer@salalsvsc.ca.