Volunteer With Us

Volunteers are essential to neighbourhood houses. And as a brand new neighbourhood house, with limited resources and big community dreams, Arbutus Neighbourhood House will rely on volunteers to help co-create, co-lead, and co-deliver with us.
Did you Know?

Volunteers Make Neighbourhood Houses Possible

Neighbourhood houses do not just deliver programs and services — we create spaces and opportunities for people to build community together. At Arbutus NH, we practice asset-based community development - we believe everyone has gifts to share, including talents, skills, lived experience, creativity, and care!

Volunteers are essential to neighbourhood houses. And as a brand new neighbourhood house, with limited resources and big community dreams, Arbutus Neighbourhood House will rely on volunteers to help co-create, co-lead, and co-deliver with us.

If you are passionate about community, interested in sharing your gifts and skills, and willing to contribute in ways big or small, we would love to have you involved!
Apply Now
Our Approach

How Volunteering with
Arbutus Neighbourhood House Is Different

This is what volunteering with Arbutus Neighbourhood House looks like in practice,
from how roles are shaped to how we work together.

We start with your gifts

We focus on what people bring, not what’s missing. Your interests, talents, skills, and lived experience help shape how and where you contribute.

We co-create

Because Arbutus NH is just getting started, volunteers are not stepping into fixed roles. You are helping to design, test, and imagine programs, activities, and ways of working together.

We believe in shared ownership

Arbutus Neighbourhood House is created for and by the community. Volunteers help steward shared values of care, inclusion, accountability, and belonging.

We value responsibility and accountability

We support volunteers with onboarding, communication, and ongoing connection, and we ask for commitment and care in return.

We build relationships, not just programs and services

Volunteering here is about connection — with neighbours, staff, partners, and the broader community, that goes beyond formal programs.
Get Involved

Ways to Volunteer

Volunteer opportunities at Arbutus NH will continue to evolve as we move toward opening and beyond. Examples include:

  • Community outreach
  • Hospitality roles
  • Administrative support
  • Event and general program support
  • Program-specific support: children, family, seniors, community, food programs
  • Skill-sharing

We also welcome your ideas, leadership, and initiative for programs or activities that could benefit the community. If you have an idea — let’s talk. You can reach out to our team at volunteers@arbutusnh.org or 604-736-3588 ext. 133.

How to Become a Volunteer

Volunteering at Arbutus Neighbourhood House starts with a few simple steps and grows through connection.

  1. Fill out a volunteer application form: Tell us about your experience, passions, gifts, and what motivates you to get involved.
  2. Complete a Criminal Record Check: Required for all volunteer roles.
  3. Attend an onboarding session: Learn about our approach, values, and ways of working together.
  4. Find a perfect volunteer role for you: Find a volunteer role (or a few!) that best fit your interests, skills and schedule
  5. Start volunteering! Stay connected, supported, and engaged as part of the Arbutus NH community.
Apply Now
Community Voices

What Neighbourhood House
Volunteers Are Saying

“Volunteering at Frog Hollow has given me the strength, confidence and guidance to find myself as a woman, mother, friend and person who now stands without fear… I have built a network and met new friends and people I call now my family in this beautiful land…”

Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House Volunteer
“I volunteer because I enjoy helping others and being part of a community. Volunteering has helped me grow as a leader and build confidence, and it also lets me give back to a place that supports so many people.”

Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House Volunteer
“I was at a junction in my life. Retired. Looking forward. Seeking people to meet, new influences and points of view… I’m moved by the impact this one hour a week has on their lives… I rejoice at the impact this one hour a week has on my life. I learn about exotic foods; share in stories of elation and despair, courage and humour… I was able to meet people I care about, and want to spend time with. Connection.”

Kitsilano Neighbourhood House Volunteer
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers cover some of the most common questions about volunteering with Arbutus Neighbourhood House.

No. We welcome people with many different backgrounds and experiences. Curiosity, care, and willingness to contribute matter most.

Time commitments vary. Some opportunities are short-term or occasional, while others are ongoing. For example, you could volunteer for a one-time event or you could volunteer with the same program every week or every month. You can use our volunteer scheduling platform to select the times and shifts that work best for you

Yes. Many early volunteer roles focus on engagement, events, planning, and co-creation as we prepare for opening in 2026.

Absolutely. Neighbourhood houses are intergenerational and inclusive by design. If you aren’t sure which volunteer opportunities are the best fit for you, our team is happy to chat with you and explore together.

Yes. We believe volunteering should be meaningful, supported, and enjoyable. Volunteers receive onboarding, training, and ongoing support, and are encouraged to share their gifts, ask questions, and learn along the way.
Contact Us

Get In Touch

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss volunteer opportunities with Arbutus NH. You can reach our team at volunteers@arbutusnh.org or 604-736-3588 ext. 133.

Contact Us
Arbutus Neighbourhood House is a new neighbourhood house being developed in the Arbutus Ridge community.
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We acknowledge and respect the land on which we live is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and sə̓lílwətaʔɬSelilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations.
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