Youth Educator Volunteers
Do you have a passion for working with youth? Interested in sharing messages of hope about mental health, wellness and suicide prevention?
Learn to facilitate our Self-Care for Mental Health workshop for teens throughout the Lower Mainland of B.C.
*The volunteer intake for our fall 2023 training is now CLOSED! Dates for spring 2024 volunteer intake will be posted in January 2024.
To apply for our spring 2024 Youth Educator volunteer intake, follow these steps:
1. Review the requirements below, as well as our Youth Programs information here.
2. Leave your contact HERE OR submit an online Youth Educator Volunteer application to receive invitation to Info Sessions about the role (dates TBC in January 2024).
3. Stay tuned for updates in early 2024.
***Questions? Contact Lana at youthworkshops@crisiscentre.bc.ca
About the Role:
As a Volunteer Youth Educator, you’ll facilitate the Self-Care for Mental Health workshops at schools (and possibly occasional online sessions). In addition, you’ll have opportunities to attend youth conferences and events, and to support community trainings at the Crisis Centre.
What’s in it for You?
- Comprehensive training and on-going support
- Opportunity to work interactively with youth in an educational capacity
- Real-world experience to enrich your public speaking and group facilitation skills
- Join the community of compassionate Crisis Centre’s volunteers
- Make a difference: build hope and resiliency among youth
- Reference letters (subject to completion of basic commitment)
- Free access to our Wellness Webinars, and discounted registration for the 2-day ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training).
“I have really enjoyed my time as a volunteer for the Crisis Centre. The impact it has made in my life will stay with me always. I have such gratitude for your incredible training, support, and compassion.”– Melanie Wickes, former Volunteer Youth Educator
Volunteer Requirements:
- Strong desire to work with youth
- Interest in / personal connection to the topic of mental health and suicide prevention
- Availability for all live training sessions (dates to be confirmed in January 2024)
- 4-6 hours of independent learning (online and self-paced)
- Completion of two half-days workshops: safeTALK & Skillfully Responding to Distress (flexible dates)
- Daytime availability for workshop delivery (school hours) – two outings per month required
- Minimum 1.5-year commitment (3 school semesters upon training completion) OR a minimum of 40 delivered workshops.
- Willingness to travel throughout Vancouver, Burnaby and the North Shore; other Lower Mainland locations are optional
- Successful completion of a Criminal Record Check (once accepted for the role)
- Comfort with public speaking and group facilitation is an asset
Once interviewed and accepted for the training, attendance at all scheduled training dates is required. Live training sessions cannot be missed or made up and must be done in sequence.
The Volunteer Youth Educator training fee is $150.
- Fees partially cover the cost of providing current and effective information, training and service to volunteers, which include safeTALK, and Skillfully Responding to Distress. The training fee is on sliding scale and can be discussed during your interview.