In Crisis? 
Volunteer counsellors in the Crisis Program provide telephone crisis counselling on Klinic’s 24-hour crisis lines. Volunteer counsellors provide emotional support, referrals to resources, and the opportunity for callers to feel heard, understood, and connected.
Volunteer Requirements
Crisis Program applicants come with all different kinds of important experience, history, and knowledge; but the most essential skills that we need from of our applicants are things like an openness to learning, a willingness to self-reflect, and the ability to sit with difficult emotions and to provide empathy to our callers.
Each Crisis Program volunteer applicant needs to attend our three-month Crisis Volunteer Training before beginning their work on our phone lines. Once this training is completed, we ask for a commitment of fulfilling one 4-hour shift each week for one year. Applicants who do not complete this commitment will be invoiced $400 for their training.
Each volunteer applicants also needs to provide a Criminal Record Check obtained within the past twelve months before beginning their volunteer position. Applicants who live in Winnipeg need to obtain this document through the Winnipeg Police Service, and applicants living outside the perimeter should obtain this check from their local RCMP. All Criminal Record Checks must include a search of the Vulnerable Persons sector. Volunteers also need to provide a Child Abuse Registry Check and an Adult Abuse Registry Check, both of which can be obtained through Klinic at no cost.
Klinic Volunteers must be at least 18-years of age, and cannot be currently accessing ongoing counselling through any Klinic program. Currently, we are offering Crisis Training virtually; however, volunteers are required to come in to the Klinic office at 167 Sherbrook to do their volunteer work once their training is completed and their volunteer commitment has begun.
Crisis Volunteer Training
The first step in becoming a volunteer in the Crisis Program is to fill out an application form to attend Crisis Volunteer Training, (using the link below). All applicants are required to complete this training before moving in to the role of volunteer.
This training program is approximately 80 hours in length offered over three months, and explores topics including counselling skills & risk assessment, suicide, sexual assault, family violence, trauma, mental health, feminism, and systematic oppression; and does so from a pro-choice, trauma-informed, 2SLGBTQ+ positive, feminist perspective. Trainees are challenged to reflect and grow in their ability to balance empathy, empowerment, safety, and choice. Additionally, trainees are encouraged to reflect on their own history and values, practice skills to stay focused and present, and explore self-care and personal supports to help enhance their own sustainability and hope.
If you are interested in attending our Crisis Volunteer Training, please fill out an application form using the link below. Spaces in these training groups are offered in the order that applications are received. When there is space available in an upcoming training group, you will be contacted by email at the address provided on your application form. If you are still interested and the training dates and times work for your available, you will be invited to attend a one-hour interview to discuss this opportunity and the expectations.
Once accepted into a training group, trainees are expected to attend all training sessions. We provide our volunteer training free of charge, however, people who accept a spot in the training but do not fulfill the volunteer commitment will be invoiced $400 for the training.
Ready to Apply?
If you’re feeling ready to apply, you can find the application form here.
Have More Questions?
If you have any questions about becoming a volunteer at Klinic or about our volunteer program, please contact Volunteer Intake or call (204) 784-4006
Upcoming Training Dates
We don’t currently have any upcoming training dates scheduled, but we do hope to offer this training again in early 2024. Future training dates will be posted here as soon as they are available, so please continue to watch this page. In the meantime, you are still able to add your name to the waitlist using the link above.
Thank you! Hope to see you in 2024!