ImmUnity Canada (Walk for Immunodeficiency – we need event volunteers!)

• Appropriate for volunteers aged between 18 and 55Appropriate for volunteers aged 55 and overTraining or orientation required

Are you sociable, friendly and keen to meet new people? Do you need some short-term volunteer experience to put on your resume?  We are looking for volunteers in Greater Vancouver to be part of our Walk for Immunodeficiency team on the afternoon of the 4th May 2024.  This includes running the registration desk and directing walkers along the walk route.  The short symbolic walk starts and ends at Hardwick Hall located in the UBC General Hospital campus, with a brief gathering at City Hall along the way. 

Running a charity walk takes a lot of work, and we really want this to be a fun, memorable event for everyone involved.  Volunteers will help to create a positive atmosphere for people undertaking the walk, and make a valuable contribution to our new mission to empower people with immunodeficiency (where part of the immune system is missing or not functioning, which leaves people more prone to infections).  

The following roles are available for volunteers:
Walk for Immunodeficiency Registration Desk
1-2 volunteers will be required to staff the Walk for Immunodeficiency registration desk at the start of the day, as people arrive to attend our Education and Awareness Day (free registration). 
Core experiences 
You may be encouraging people to sign up, checking pre-registrations, monitoring lists of participants and making sure they are accurate and up-to-date, as well as answering questions about the walk.  This role may also involve handing out registration packages, and selling/handing out toques, T-shirts, and  water bottles.  
Skills
This is a front-facing role, so volunteers should be sociable, comfortable with answering queries, selling merchandise, and generally well-organised.  
Benefits
You will get to meet and chat with walk participants, build your customer service, sales and admin skills, and represent the organisation at our event.
Wayfinders
A few volunteers will be positioned along the way to make sure participants don’t get lost and stay on the planned walk route (holding up directional arrows).  
Core experiences
You will be standing with a sign, and pointing people in the right direction, as well as cheering them on/encouraging them.  You will also be a point of contact to address any arising problems that walkers may have, and should carry a cellphone to contact First Aiders and the Volunteer Coordinator, if necessary.  As a wayfinder, you can still take part in the walk, and follow on to City Hall, after the last participants have passed.
Skills 
You should be able to get to your position by walking or with mobility aids, and be comfortable remaining in one place for a while, holding up a sign.  If you wish to join the group doing the walk, you should feel able to complete some or part of the route.  Good communication skills and a sense of direction are also of benefit!  
Benefits
You will get to briefly engage with everyone on the walk, including other volunteers.  This means being part of what we hope will be an enjoyable and memorable event for you!  
Onboarding/Training Provided
As a new volunteer, you will receive an orientation to ImmUnity Canada, a PDF of our volunteer handbook and the event volunteers guidebook, both of which contain some useful information about our organisation, our policies and your rights and responsibilities.   If you are on the registration desk, you will be with either another volunteer or staff member, who can provide support.  Wayfinders will be led to their positions by a staff member or volunteer lead.  
Benefits to you as a Volunteer
This is an opportunity to get behind the scenes in the running of a charity walk, meet some interesting people and help support people in the rare disease community.  You will also get an opportunity to work with staff within the organisation, and learn from them.  

At ImmUnity Canada, we gain a great deal from the work of our volunteers and hope that you will feel appreciated.  We offer a personal reference and certificate of appreciation to all event volunteers, as well as refreshments during your shift.  

 We also hope that the experience will benefit you in the following ways:

Increase your confidence and verbal communication skills

Develop your negotiation and problem-solving skills
Give you a sense of satisfaction by helping the event run smoothly
Make you feel valued in your contribution to creating a sense of community among our members

Application Process
Please send your resume and an email explaining why you are interested in one or more of these roles, to Fiona, the Project and Volunteer Coordinator:

volunteer@immunitycanada.org

This will be followed by a quick, informal telephone call to match you to a position and schedule you in.