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Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia is committed to maintaining a strong volunteer program that screens individual applicants to ensure a strong match between the needs of our program and the needs of the applicant. We recognize that a well run volunteer program is one that is beneficial for the applicant, the organization, those it serves, and the community of Nova Scotia in general.

Good Volunteers are considered our most valuable natural resource, and are typically comprised of people who are committed to building a stronger community, and who take pride in being a part of a social movement.

Some of the key areas of expertise volunteers participate in are listed below, but this listing is not exhaustive, and we are always willing to consider other areas in which volunteering could be beneficial:

• Recreational and craft activities with women incarcerated at the Halifax Correctional Centre in Burnside;
• one-on-one support for federally-sentenced women at the Nova Institute in Truro;
• literacy programs;
• management team membership;
• fund Development Committee membership;
• community education;
• public Speaking;
• systems and office administration support;
• social action committee membership.

Volunteering is not just about giving, it is also about receiving and the following listing, though not exhaustive, gives an idea of what volunteers get in return for their efforts and time:

• skills development through jobs corresponding to personal interests and expectations;
• tasks suitable to physical and intellectual capabilities;
• clear and comprehensive description of working conditions, duties, responsibilities and benefits;
• clearly defined tasks;
• appropriate guidance and feedback;
• a suitable workplace;
• continuous training;
• gratitude for a job well done;
• the opportunity to make suggestions to the organization;
• employment references;
• information about the organization, its structure, funding, social benefits and management policies.
• ability to develop a network of contacts;
• satisfaction in knowing you have impacted positively on the lives of others.

Our volunteers are always treated with the respect and admiration they deserve. We also look to our base of volunteers as opportunities for employment occur either with us or with a related agency or department.

Operating and maintain a quality volunteer programs requires that volunteers (both current and future) meet a specific set of criteria. The listing below contains the key criteria that we look for in volunteers:

• Sincerely committed to the mission of Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia;
• personal expectations and objectives match what we have to offer;
• desire to accept tasks that fit personal skills and interests;
• learns what is expected and acts according to those expectations;
• honors and supports our commitment;
• informs the Volunteer Coordinator of any inability to meet a commitment;
• maintains and follows the rules of confidentiality;
• accepts advice and direction from supervisors;
• completes responsibilities efficiently and honestly;
• expresses feelings of satisfaction or discontent about volunteer work suggesting changes or improvements as necessary;
• seizes every opportunity for training;
• makes every effort to thoroughly understand the organization's policies, procedures and structure;
• works well with other staff, the public, and those we serve.

You can print, complete, and land mail or fax the hard copy application form, or you can complete the online form located further down on this page. NOTE: you must have a pdf reader such as the free Foxit PDF Reader to view pdf files on your computer.

Click here to load the hard copy form. Once you print and complete the form you can fax it to 902-455-5913, or land mail it to:

Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia
C/O: Volunteer Coordinator
1 Tulip Street,
Dartmouth, NS B3A 2S3

Your application will be reviewed by the Volunteer Coordinator, and you will be contacted within 2 weeks of your application being received.

you can fill in the online form below instead of preparing a hard copy. Upon submitting the online form your responses will be emailed to us, and we will review your applicaiton and get back to you within 4 working days. You will know your submitted form was successful when after pressing the Submit button the form nolonger appears on this page.

Elizabeth Fry Society of Nova Scotia : efrymain@efrynovascotia.com