Volunteer
Want to get involved? Northumberland County welcomes new volunteers and student placements! Join our team and work with us to create possibilities for a thriving Northumberland!
Where to volunteer
Area of interest
Business development and entrepreneurship
Details
Are you a current or former business owner in Northumberland? We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to coach local entrepreneurs through BECN’s business programs. This is a two-year commitment supporting program participants with guidance, insights, and strategic direction. Volunteer responsibilities include:
- Collaborate with BECN staff to support local businesses
- Provide honest, constructive feedback to program participants
- Offer practical solutions to business challenges
- Help clients generate ideas for growth and development
- Empower clients to make informed decisions
- Refer clients to relevant professionals when needed—refraining from legal, accounting, or tax advice
- Maintain clear communication with BECN staff and coordinators
- Keep BECN informed of significant client-related developments
- Adapt to working with various clients as needed
- Attend Faster Forward Business Success Program team meetings when possible
To learn more, visit our BECN website.
Area of interest
Food security
Details
Make a meaningful impact in addressing food insecurity and supporting the local community. Potential volunteer opportunities may include:
- Administrative support (answering phones, helping with data entry tasks)
- Food distribution (helping agencies pick up orders, picking up donations from suppliers)
- Inventory management (organizing shelves, tracking expiration dates)
- Sorting and packing food
To learn more, visit our Food Support webpage.
Area of interest
Seniors and healthy aging
Details
Make a significant difference in the lives of residents and help create a supportive and engaging community. Potential volunteer opportunities may include:
- Administrative support (answering phones, helping with data entry tasks)
- Escorting residents to and from activities within the facility
- Friendly visits (conversation, playing games, reading books, providing companionship)
- Mealtime assistance (helping people with food selection, serving meals, providing social interaction during dining)
- Recreational activities (bingo, crafts, music therapy sessions, fitness/exercise, movie nights, gardening activities)
- Technology assistance (helping residents use computers/tablets/etc. to communicate with loved ones or access entertainment)
- All volunteers are required to complete specific training before assisting
To learn more, visit our Long-Term Care webpage.
Area of interest
History, community and culture
Details
We are excited to be able to grow our volunteer base when we move into our new facility. Due to space restrictions, current opportunities are limited.
To learn more, visit our Support the Archives and Museum page.
Area of interest
Forestry, environment and conservation
Details
Enjoy the rewards of environmental conservation and outdoor activities. Potential volunteer opportunities may include:
- Habitat restoration (creating wildlife habitat features, building nesting boxes, installing bat houses)
- Invasive species management (manual removal, planting native species to outcompete invasive species)
- Trail maintenance (clearing fallen branches, trimming vegetation, repairing erosion damage, marking trails with signage)
- Trail mapping and GIS (assisting with mapping and Geographic Information Systems projects to update trail maps, survey trails)
- Tree planting and restoration
- Wildlife monitoring (completing bird counts, tracking mammal activity, conducting surveys of amphibians and reptiles)
To learn more, visit our Forest webpage.
Area of interest
Community, language and support
Details
Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of newcomers to Canada? Volunteering with Northumberland County Settlement Services offers you the chance to foster a sense of belonging and help individuals and families as they build their new lives in our community. Potential volunteer opportunities may include:
- Building friendships, connections, and offering a warm welcome
- Helping people improve their conversational English skills through casual and supportive interactions
- Assisting with transportation to important appointments or community events
- Providing interpretation assistance
To learn more, visit our Settlement Services webpage.
Ways to apply
For more information on how to apply to become a volunteer, please call 905-372-3329 ext. 2245 or email our Human Resources team.