Summary

The Distress Centre of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville is a free, confidential and anonymous telephone support service, which provides a safe and comfortable space to reach someone in your time of need. Callers are treated with respect and empathy by the Distress Centre volunteers. The focus of the service is on listening, support and non-clinical short term crisis intervention.

Description

The Distress Centre of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville is a free, confidential and anonymous telephone support service, which provides  a safe and comfortable space to reach someone in your time of need. All of our callers are treated with respect and empathy by the Distress Centre volunteers.  

The focus of the service is on listening, support and non-clinical short term crisis intervention. All volunteers are trained in active listening techniques and how to address emergency situations. On how to support callers and allow them the opportunity to discuss their feelings, and concerns; and how to encourage our callers to come up with solutions to their own problems. Volunteers will also provide information and referrals where appropriate and intervene in life threatening situations.

When recruiting volunteers we look for individuals that can be non-judgmental, empathetic, and compassionate towards others. As a volunteer you are a catalyst for positive change in our communities. 

This volunteer position can be done in office or remotely, and we only require one shift per month.

Volunteers are provided with the following.  

  • Training course in active listening techniques and how to address emergency situations
  • Comprehensive training to develop an understanding of a wide rage of social issues
  • Skills that can benefit your personal lives
  • The opportunity to make a difference for individuals and the community at large
  • Two-day Living Works Suicide Intervention Skills Training Workshop (ASIST)
  • Enhanced self -growth
  • On-line training, workshops, and webinars
  • Increase knowledge of community resources
  • A reference letter after completing 36 shifts
  • Skills transferable to the workplace

Volunteers Gain:

  • Skills that can benefit your personal lives
  • The opportunity to make a difference for individuals and the community at large
  • Two-day Living Works Suicide Intervention Skills Training Workshop (ASIST)
  • Enhanced self -growth
  • On-line training, workshops, and webinars
  • Increase knowledge of community resources
  • A reference letter after

The requirements/process to become a Distress Centre Volunteer are: 

  • Distress Centre volunteers must reside within Lanark, Leeds and Grenville 
  • To complete the attached fellable application, and returned by email to dcvolunteer@dslg.ca. 
  • A Distress Center Coordinator will reach out to you to arrange an interview that can be completed in person or virtually 
  • To provide 3 character references 
  • To provide a police check 
  • Following satisfactory completion of above, attend 3 training sessions via Teams or in person 
  • Following satisfactory completion of training, complete 3 training shifts on the line scheduled with experienced volunteers 
  • Complete all mandatory policies and procedures prior to first solo shift