current volunteer roles
Do you have a passion for music and want to support good mental health in the community? We are looking for new volunteers to support our programs on an ongoing basis. Through volunteering with us, you will gain experience in a non-profit setting focused on arts & leisure, and learn more about the psychosocial model for mental health.
The positions listed below, may have openings. We are open to proposals if you have a specific set of skills to offer, or have a project to propose. Get in touch with us at fommusicsociety2@gmail.com and tell us a little about yourself, your relevant skills or work experience, and what you can help us with. Feel free to also include your resume, LinkedIn profile, or sample of your work or portfolio (if relevant, ie: volunteer photographer/videographer role)
Volunteer Role 1
support our coffee breaks
We need help with coffee breaks, for the following group rehearsals: Open Mic on Sundays from 6-8pm (starting in the Fall 2026), Moodswing Chorus Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30pm, Drum & Percussion (alternate Tuesdays 1-3pm). The time commitment would be approximately 1-2 hours each week, ideally for a duration of anywhere from 3-6 months (minimum). Volunteers would assist with set-up of the coffee, snacks and tea, and tidy up afterwards. It’s an easy and relaxed volunteer role. If you aren’t already a member of the group, feel free to stay and socialize or sit-in with the musicians. This would really help free up time for our staff to continue with their vital work in the office. This is an excellent role for persons looking and gain experience with a non-profit or in food service, as well as for students or recent graduates looking to build hours of direct experience within an MHSU setting. We operate out of the Theatre at Eric Martin Pavilion (at Jubilee Hospital).
Duties for this volunteer role require the following abilities: carrying, lifting, bending, crouching, set-up and light cleaning duties.
We would schedule one training shift to learn the role. We are only able to onboard volunteers that can make a consistent weekly commitment, for a minimum of 3-6 months.
Volunteer Role 2
supporting musician
We welcome musicians from the community to to sit in as supporting musicians with FOM Music Society bands or our group lessons. This fulfils part of our mandate to create partnerships with musicians from the community. The supporting musician can play and perform with the group, as well be available as a welcoming and supportive presence to the group. They are ready to assist other members in the group, as needed (or help new joiners integrate). There may be other tasks assigned (equipment set up or clean-up), depending on needs of the day and what the volunteer is able to help with. This role would give the volunteer direct experience in a mental health setting, working within a psycho-social framework (non-clinical model). It is a great opportunity for anyone looking to build hours for post-graduate programs or counselling masters degree programs.
To sign up for this role, reach out to us by email, and let us know what instruments you play, which groups you’d like to sit in with. Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you are interested in the role. From there, we’d arrange a meet and greet with you, to discuss the role in more detail and answer any questions you might have.
Volunteer Role 3
Volunteer promoter / COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Help us get the word out about FOM Music Society! We have 2 different roles, in this category, and would require 1-3 hours of flexible volunteer work per month.
a) Volunteer promoters will help distributer posters, flyers, handbills and brochures to various target sites in the community: university and college campuses, community posting boards, community centers, health and wellness services etc…
b) Community Outreach volunteers can help identify and approach key interest groups and local businesses, to let them know more about what we offer. This will help us build relationships and attract new participants, members, volunteers, or donors in the community. There is a special need for promoters to do outreach to help us recruit walkers/runners, or corporate sponsors in the Victoria Marathon (held Thanksgiving Weekend in October)
Volunteer Role 4
SET UP CREW & TRANSPORTATION
We need help with transporting equipment and set-up for concerts and events at different locations around the city. Concerts are normally held on weekdays in the afternoons or evenings and would require 1-3 hours of your time, once or twice a month. Ideal candidates have a driver’s license, their own vehicle and can lift and carry up to 40-60lbs.
This is an ideal casual volunteer role, with an opportunity to learn and job-shadow with setting up musical equipment for gigs.
Volunteer Role 5
photographer / videographer
Help us get more media content for our website, Facebook and YouTube. We are looking for individuals who are skilled in videography or photography, who can capture high quality images or video of our bands, concerts and events. You don’t have to be a professional, but we prefer intermediate level and up. You know your way around the semi-automatic and manual settings on your camera, and have a good grasp of digital photography or videography. You must have your own photo/video equipment: a tripod and DSLR or Mirrorless system, with good low-light performance, and high ISO shooting capacity would be ideal. Get in touch with us and send us a small sample of your work (portraits, band photos, video samples, Flickr or Instagram accounts). Signing a Volunteer Photographer photo licensing agreement is a requirement.
This is a great opportunity to gain experience shooting live bands and doing event photography, whilst serving a good cause.
Volunteer Role 6
sound / audio recording
Help us get quality performance recordings of our bands, at rehearsals or in concert. We can use these recordings for our annual general meeting slideshow, social media posts, and short promotional videos about our organization. The volunteer would need to have their own sound recording equipment, and the time commitment would be short term, and anywhere from 1-2 hours per week. This role may be of interest to anyone that enjoys recording and editing sound clips, and/or looking to gain work experience in non-profit, educational or music industry setting.
Volunteer Role 7
researcher
Do you have an interest in researching health/mental health topics?
We are looking for individuals with an academic background (ie: music, psychology, counselling, social sciences, social work or mental health and substance use (MHSU), to conduct a search of existing research to help us build a mental health resource video library for our website. The resource section would include information on Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR), the Recovery model. The researcher would work towards compiling research from both academic or online sources, with the goal of creating short informational videos, or other information content in presentation format, or brochure/flyer format (using Canva or other equivalent software).
Time commitment: Anywhere from 1-2 hours per week (or more depending on what scope project the volunteer chooses). There is flexibility, with the researcher able to set their own schedule.
Value: This role may be of interest to post-secondary students or graduates, looking to gain practical research experience working with a community mental health organization. We are happy to write a professional letter of reference for the student, upon project completion.
Choose your project:
- Develop a video library on Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR), and/or the Recovery model: Good video content on these topics may already exist, and we can link them to our website! Compile a list of videos, with informative links (YouTube), that present information on any of these topics (preferably from experts on the subject). We can use this to build a small video library on our website, to provide information to the public, donors and our members on these topics. Write a short caption describing each video.
- Create a presentation about psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) – A non-clinical model for supporting mental health recovery. Using Canva, Powerpoint, or other presentation software (that converts to video format). What is PSR? What are the main goals, principles of PSR? How does this model intersect with what we are offering at FOM Music Society? How does it benefit mental health? How does it connect with the Recovery Model?
- Create a Brochure (in Canva): We’d like to develop a brochure that we can use both internally, and to distribute to mental health professionals on the topic of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. Persons in recovery, as well as Medical professionals and psychiatrists may not be aware of the PSR-style programs offered in the community (as an effective non-clinical model for supporting mental health). The goal would be to educate around why PSR programs can be a beneficial part of mental health recovery plan. Highlight FOM Music Society as an organization that offers music-based psycho-social programs, that are accessible and fun.
Has prior upper-level academic research experience, may have access to peer review journal articles, and is comfortable drawing from a variety of academic and non-academic sources.
Is a current or university student or graduate in any the following disciplines: music, psychology, counselling, hard sciences, social sciences, social work, medicine, public health, neuroscience, or mental health and substance use (MHSU)
Can synthesize research into clear, written outputs
Can translate information from academic or technical sources to a format that is accessible to the public (information mobilization).
Is organized, proactive, and can work in a self-directed fashion
Can collaborate effectively with staff, and do check-ins as the project develops
To apply, please email:
A brief introduction outlining your interest in the role
A brief highlight of your academic background
No long cover letters please! We are not for hiring any paid roles at this time.
Send applications to: fommusicsociety2@gmail.com
Volunteer Role 7
strategic planning lead
Friends of Music (FOM) Music Society – Board of Directors (ROLE HAS BEEN FILLED)
The Friends of Music (FOM) Music Society is seeking a motivated and strategic-thinking volunteer to help spearhead our upcoming strategic planning process. This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with a non-profit Board of Directors and contribute meaningfully to the long-term direction of a vibrant community arts organization.
We are ideally looking for a graduate student (or recent graduate) in a Master’s-level Business, Public Administration, Non-Profit Management, or related program who is seeking hands-on experience in strategic planning within the non-profit sector.
Time Committment
3–4 evening sessions
Approximately 1 hour per session
Conducted over one month
Additional preparation time as needed (estimated 2–4 hours total)
Scope of Work
The volunteer will:
Help design and facilitate 3–4 structured strategic planning sessions
Guide the Board through discussion of mission, priorities, and long-term goals
Support identification of key strategic themes for the next 3–5 years
Draft a concise written Strategic Plan document summarizing outcomes
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the engagement, FOM will have:
A clearly articulated 3–5 year strategic direction
Defined strategic priorities and high-level goals
A written Strategic Plan document that the Board can reference and use to guide decision-making
The volunteer will gain:
Hands-on experience facilitating a Board-level strategic planning process
Exposure to non-profit governance
A portfolio-ready strategic planning document
A professional reference from the Board President
What we’re looking for
We are seeking someone who:
Has familiarity with basic strategic planning frameworks (SWOT, goal setting, etc.)
Is confident facilitating structured discussions
Can synthesize discussion into clear, written outputs
Is organized, proactive, and collaborative
Is comfortable working with a volunteer Board
To apply, please email:
A brief introduction outlining your interest in the role
A copy of your resume
Send applications to: info@friendsofmusic.ca
Volunteer Role 8
propose a project / idea
Do you have a specialized set of skills that might be valuable to us? Or a project idea to propose? We welcome all ideas. Let us know what you have to offer! Email: fommusicsociety2@gmail.com
volunteer spotlight
Danial Mirsajedin - UVic Community Engaged Learning
“Being a volunteer at Friends of Music has been an eye opening opportunity. There is always something new to do and it never gets dull. I have done things like helping the instructors set up and take down equipment for their classes. I have also helped with administrative duties such as calling participants and filing. I assisted in setting up for concerts which was an amazing experience. I got to meet many people, build wonderful relationships and deepen my knowledge of the nonprofit world.”
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT HELPS OUR ORGANIZATION TO THRIVE. INTERESTED?
