Peer Support Volunteer

Overview

Peer Support Volunteers provide non‑clinical, relationship‑based support to young adults navigating life transitions, wellness challenges, and personal goals. Drawing from lived experience, volunteers build authentic connections, offer encouragement, and help participants strengthen resilience, confidence, and self‑advocacy. This role is ideal for individuals who believe in the power of shared experience, community, and youth‑centered empowerment.

Our organization provides the required professional training and ongoing development. We believe lived experience is expertise, and we ensure every volunteer receives the tools, preparation, and support they need to successfully participate in, and meaningfully support, our programs.

NOTE: All training and ongoing support for this role are fully covered by the organization.

Key Responsibilities (Once training is completed)

• Build supportive, trusting relationships with program participants through active listening, empathy, and appropriate sharing of lived experience.
• Facilitate one‑on‑one or small‑group conversations that promote wellness, connection, and personal growth.
• Help participants identify strengths, set self‑directed goals, and explore tools for managing stress, relationships, school, work, and life transitions.
• Provide warm navigation to community resources such as mental health supports, education/employment programs, and social‑connection opportunities.
• Maintain clear boundaries and uphold confidentiality and ethical conduct.
• Participate in trainings and volunteer meetings.

Ideal Skills & Qualities

• Personal lived experience with mental health, substance use recovery, trauma, system involvement, or other challenges, and readiness to share appropriately.
• Strong empathy, communication, and active‑listening abilities.
• Commitment to youth empowerment, healing‑centered engagement, and cultural humility.
• Reliability, consistency, and comfort working with diverse young adults ages.
• Ability to maintain healthy boundaries and practice self‑awareness.
• Openness to feedback, reflective practice, and ongoing learning.

What Volunteers Gain

• Meaningful opportunities to uplift and support young adults through authentic connection.
• Hands‑on experience in peer support, youth development, and community‑based wellness work.
• Practical skills in communication, boundaries, facilitation, and trauma‑informed engagement.
• Mentorship from experienced staff.
• A supportive team environment that values lived experience as expertise.
• A pathway into youth work, mental health support roles, or other helping professions.