Oxford County Circles Program Looking for Volunteers

Tuesday, 8 March 2022 13:09

Circles is a program that helps people of low income connect with people in the community of middle and upper incomes to guide them on their path to self sufficiency.

OXFORD COUNTY - The Circles program from Oxford County is looking for a few good men and women to sign up and volunteer.

Manager of Human Services for Oxford County Lynda Bartlett says Circles started in 2019 to help tackle poverty by breaking down barriers.

"It is a program that helps people of low income connect with people in the community of middle and upper incomes and it helps to build supportive relationships through casual weekly meetings in an effort to lift individuals and families out of poverty."

The Circles program has helped 9 active leaders who are on their path to creating future stories and moving out of poverty. Bartlett says they want to surround those leaders with active circle allies.

"Those allies are volunteers within the Oxford County community who are willing to make a 2 year minimum commitment to the Circles program. They help support leaders with a phone call, an email, or text them every week, as well as attend out Circles meeting. The volunteers just support the leaders, connecting them to their own connections in the community who might help them on their journey to self sufficiency and moving out of poverty."

Bartlett says they have had leaders move out of poverty and become allies or mentors themselves.

"Many of our Leaders go on to secure full time employment, have returned to school or completed post-secondary education or other employment certifications. One of our previous Leaders has been successfully employed for over a year and is now an Ally with Circles and giving back."

Anyone looking to volunteer should check out the Circles web site and download the volunteer application form. You can find that online here.

For more information about the workshop, please visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/oxfords-bridges-out-of-poverty-virtual-workshop-tickets-276366237857?aff=ebdsoporgprofile.