The Calgary John Howard Society (Bedford House Transit Orientation Volunteer)

• Background/police check required
• Appropriate for volunteers aged between 18 and 55
• Appropriate for volunteers aged 55 and over
• Training or orientation required

The Program- Bedford House’s primary mandate is to ensure the safety, security, and wellbeing of the community at-large while meeting the social and clinical needs of offenders with issues requiring further programming and/or treatment.  The activities carried out are designed to address the social and clinical needs of residents thereby minimizing the risk present if offenders were simply released into the community at the end of their sentence. Bedford House has a total of 22 beds and houses males aged 18+. The house is staffed 24/7 by at least two staff members. Residents staying at Bedford have been referred to CJHS by Correctional Services Canada for transition back into the community. All referrals are screened for suitability and risk management before being accepted. These men are from all walks of life and have committed a wide variety of offences. Successful candidates demonstrate positive motivation, some insight into their criminogenic factors and a willingness to address and change those factors. The Position – As many of our persons served rely exclusively on public transportation to travel to and from work, medical appointments, and other necessary locations, knowledge of how to utilize Calgary’s bus and LRT system is vital to their wellbeing and livelihood. The Transit Orientation Volunteer will work in the community directly with the people we serve in offering support, information and guidance to navigate the public transit system as the person served accesses the community and builds independence. You will be supported by a Volunteer Supervisor. Responsibilities * Plan bus routes to and from important location points (for example: home, work, grocery stores, clothing stores, doctors’ offices, etc.). * Demonstrate how to purchase bus tickets and monthly passes, if appropriate. * Teach persons served how to board, use tickets/passes, signal for a stop, and change buses. * Show persons served how to identify bus stops and how to locate nearby bus stops and stations. * Teach persons served how to ask for assistance from transit officials, as well as how to recognize them as such. * Help with learning bus etiquette (for example, that one shouldn’t eat/drink, play loud music, stand in the aisles, etc.). * Prepare clients for what to do when buses do not arrive and show them how to check for service interruptions/alerts. * Track persons served progress and maintain case files for reporting purposes as required.