Volunteer group evolves with times
Volunteering Canterbury marks its 30th anniversary this year with the support of a growing number of organisations and volunteers whose makeup continues to evolve with the region.
It was the late 1980s when the mayoress of Christchurch, Judith, Lady Hay, got the ball rolling. Having been on a sister city trip to Adelaide, where she visited the local volunteer centre, she thought it would be good if Christchurch had something similar and on her return called a meeting of interested persons and formed a committee.
On September 22, 1988, Christchurch’s Volunteer Centre opened its doors on Gloucester St, interviewing potential volunteers and referring them to positions with member organisations.
The vision of the late Judith Hay continues 30 years on through the work of Volunteering Canterbury. Today they provide services to nearly 300 not-for-profit organisations and the wider community through recruitment, volunteer management training and outreach programmes.
Services are constantly undergoing review and adaptation as the needs of the community transition with changes in technology and the diversification of the region.
Each month between 200 and 300 people register via the Volunteering Canterbury database – at volcanmatch.com – to check out the volunteer roles on offer.
Of those people, 25 per cent currently identify as having English as a second language.
Supporting member organisations to engage with newcomers is a key focus for Volunteering Canterbury as the organisation moves forward, and in November they held their first Migrant Volunteer Workshops.
A programme to support youth volunteering was first initiated by Volunteering Canterbury in 1992 and amalgamated into the centre’s core operations in 2000.
Relationships continue to be formed with schools and young people around the region, including throughout this year when the organisation worked with Christchurch Girls’ High School’s ‘‘Ninja’’ students, and in November when the they worked with Christ’s College to set up projects for students to get engaged in their community.
While in the past older adults have made up a large proportion of the volunteer base, there is increasing recognition that in addition to those staying in the paid workforce longer, a growing number are involved in caregiving roles for grandchildren and their extended whanau.
For those older adults who do have time on their hands, volunteering is a valuable way to contribute and share skills garnered over the years, as well as retain connections with the wider community that reduce social isolation and improve wellbeing.
Christchurch was the second volunteer centre in New Zealand, following Dunedin, and has always played a role in supporting volunteering outside its geographic region.
As such, the group was wellpositioned to welcome the the Volunteer Centre Network Aotearoa Hui to Christchurch this year.
Sixteen volunteer centres from across the country participated in the hui, which provided an opportunity to share challenges, opportunities and ideas.
The important work of Volunteering Canterbury was recognised in this year’s Westpac Champion Business Awards, when it was named a finalist in the Small Enterprise category of the Champion Community Impact Award.
Volunteering Canterbury outreach and marketing manager Glenda Martin says as a charity the group’s ability to provide services relies heavily on the backing of funders.
‘‘It is timely, as we move into our 31st year of operations to thank the generosity of our partners and funders who allow us to operate the way we do and allow volunteers to be such a pillar of the community,’’ she says.