The Looking Glass Foundation for Eating Disorders (Looking Glass Foundation for Eating Disorders – Peer Support Volunteers)

Organization Name: The Looking Glass Foundation for Eating Disorders
Opportunity Title: Looking Glass Foundation for Eating Disorders – Peer Support Volunteers
Category: Counselling / Support / Mentoring
Commitment: 6 months to 1 year, Ongoing Opportunity (> 1 year)
Start Date: June 10, 2022
End Date: April 4, 2024

Email: volunteer@lookingglassbc.com
Website: https://www.lookingglassbc.com/
Details:

• Background/police check required
• Appropriate for volunteers aged between 18 and 55
• Appropriate for volunteers aged 55 and over
• Training or orientation required

Opportunity Description:

The Looking Glass Foundation is always ready to welcome passionate, dedicated people who are willing to share their amazing gifts with our community. Community engagement and a refusal to stay silent are our greatest assets when it comes to defeating eating disorders, and we sincerely thank you for your willingness to help.

We are currently looking for peer support volunteers to provide virtual peer support in one of our 3 programs: Online Peer Support, Personal Recovery Space & Hand in Hand. We are also looking for bloggers.

To apply please visit: https://www.lookingglassbc.com/volunteer/

> In order to be a peer support volunteer with Looking Glass, you must currently reside in Canada and you must be at least 19 years or older.

Here is a more detailed description about our 3 programs, followed by some FAQ:

Online Peer Support (OPS)

Program Description: Scheduled, anonymous, online chat for individuals ages 14+, of any gender, from anywhere in the world with access to the Internet. 6 chats are offered each week in the afternoons and evenings and each last 1.5 hours.

Volunteer Role: Your role is to make participants feel welcome, ensure the forum is a safe space, free of triggering conversations (e.g. no numbers, no talking about specific eating disorder behaviours), and to keep the chat positive and recovery-focused.
Volunteer Commitment: As a volunteer we ask that you commit to the program for a minimum of 6 months and that you moderate at least 3 chats each month.

Personal Recovery Space (PRS)

Program Description: Digital 24/7 recovery support service for individuals ages 14+, of any gender, from anywhere in the world with access to the internet. Each participant is given their own personal, secure, and confidential online forum that is shared with 2-3 Looking Glass Volunteers who provide peer support.

Volunteer Role: As a PRS volunteer you provide peer support to individuals as they go through the ups and downs along their recovery path. Your role is to validate the participant and remind them that full recovery is possible. No topics are off limits as each participant only interacts with volunteers.

Volunteer Commitment: As a volunteer we ask that you commit to the program for a minimum of 6 months. We ask that you respond to the participant within 48 hours.

Hand-in-Hand

Program Description: In-person, confidential peer support service for individuals ages 16+, of any gender, who want to recover from an eating disorder. Trained Looking Glass Volunteers are paired with a participant whose background and interests suggest they will be a good match.

Volunteer Role: As a Hand-in-Hand volunteer you will provide peer support to an individual who is wanting to recovery from an eating disorder. You will support the participant wherever they are in their unique recovery journey, encourage them to remain recovery focused, and provide consistent, positive support.

Volunteer Commitment: As a volunteer we as that you commit to the program for a minimum of 6 months. We ask that you meet with your participant for 60-90 minutes each week through video conferencing on our secure platform.

FAQ

How long is my volunteer commitment?
We ask that all volunteers commit to their role for at least 6 months.

I have never had an eating disorder, can I still be a volunteer?
Definitely! Anyone can be compassionate, empathetic, and provide peer support. As well, the trainings are designed to make sure every volunteer is equipped with the knowledge they need about eating disorders.

I am new to recovery from an eating disorder/disordered eating, can I volunteer?
Yes, but not in a peer-support role. We ask that our volunteers have been recovered for at least 2 years before they volunteer in a peer support role. We care about you and don’t want to put you in a place where you might be triggered, although this might never happen to you, it is impossible to predict. Anyone is welcome to blog and volunteer at the Gala and, if you are interested in volunteering in a peer-support role, we encourage you to reach out once you have been recovered for two years, we will always be here.

To apply please visit: https://www.lookingglassbc.com/volunteer/

We thank all of those interested in volunteering, however, filling out an intake form does not guarantee a volunteer spot. There are several next steps including a 30 minute volunteer interview that is intended to determine whether the role is a good fit for both you and the Foundation, followed by a criminal record check and reference check.