Volunteering

From Calgarypedia

Volunteer Calgary was established in 1955 by the Junior League of Calgary.

The main role of this volunteer centre is to provide service to the non-profit community in Calgary and help to promote and encourage volunteerism in the city. Likewise, it provides the community easy access to volunteer opportunities.

Through its services and programs, it has enhanced the ability of more than 450 member non-profit organizations to manage volunteers and has linked thousands of Calgarians with unique volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Calgary's Mission

Engaging more people, more effectively, to volunteer in the community.

Volunteer Calgary Online

There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities available through the Volunteer Calgaryonline search. Opportunities are updated on a daily basis and available to the public 24-hours a day.

In 2007, over 250,000 online searches were conducted in Calgary and over 4,000 volunteer opportunities were posted.

Volunteering Statistics in Calgary

• 71% of Calgarians Volunteer on average 15 hours per month
• There are over 5,000 non-profit organizations in the Calgary area, most of which use volunteers
• 63 % of volunteers in Calgary are female, 37 % are over the age of 55, 46 % are married and 62 % have a post secondary degree
• 65 % of volunteers in Calgary are involved with activities surrounding youth and children, but many are also active with sports and recreation (44 %), social services (42 %), education/research (41 %) and faith/religion (36 %)
• 76 % of volunteers in Calgary are driven by a desire to give back to their community, by an appreciation of volunteering as something of value for the social good, and the belief that volunteering helps volunteers feel good about themselves.

• Approximately 50 % of volunteers in Calgary are motivated to volunteer because they have a close personal connection to the volunteer work through family, friends and neighbours; 40 % are “self starters” meaning no one influenced them to get involved, 8 % are motivated by teachers, 5% by church leaders, 4% by employers and 3% by community leaders

• 50 % of volunteers in Calgary are looking to develop new skills and 47 % volunteer for an organization where they have personally received services

• 61 % of volunteers in Calgary list lack of time as the primary reason for not getting involved

• 40 % of volunteers in Calgary see volunteering as a habit, while 25 % consider it as something to do to pass the time

Volunteer Calgary 2005 IPSOS-REID Survey