“Tautoko” relates to support and advocacy. Our unique Tautoko Network enables more accessible information sharing and collaboration across the local community sector. Our programme includes events within Christchurch City as well as the Hurunui, Selwyn and Waimakariri Districts.
For a range of training opportunities throughout New Zealand, visit the Regional Training page at Volunteering New Zealand. These include a mix of face-to-face and remote training sessions to support volunteering and the community sector right across the country.
Facilitator: Garth Nowland-Foreman, from LEAD Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership
Venue: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central (Please enter the Aldersgate Centre from the rear door, via the car park. This can be accessed from Chester Street West. Spaces within the carpark are available to Governance Bites attendees from 5pm onwards.)
Cost: Free event
This session gets down to the nitty-gritty of good governance, dealing with the most common questions and concerns that non-profit leaders have about boards. How can boards and managers work constructively together? Is there a clear dividing line between governing and day-to-day management? If not, how do we sort it out in practice? Does that change over time, and is it affected by the life-cycle stage of the non-profit organisation?
RSVP: Registrations essential, via email
Facilitator: Waimakariri District Council
Venue: Woodend Community Centre, School Road, Woodend
Cost: Free event
The Waimakariri Volunteer Expos are a chance for anyone interested in volunteering to meet with local community organisations and learn about what volunteer opportunities might best suit their skills and interest. Volunteering is good for you and good for others. You’ll learn new skills, share your knowledge with others, gain new experiences and give back to your community.
Host: Lynda, Risingholme Learning
Venue: 22 Cholmondeley Avenue, Opawa
Cost: Free event
On the first Thursday of each month, we hold a Coffee & Chats peer support session for those who manage or coordinate a volunteer team, hosted each time by a different community organisation. This is an occasion to network with others from local not-for-profit groups and talk all things volunteering, and includes the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and support each other as we navigate the ever-changing community sector.
RSVP: Via email - it is essential that you RSVP for these events, please.
Facilitator: Community Capacity Accounting (CCA)
Venue: Online
Cost: free event
You’re a not-for-profit, so why not do your accounting the not-for-profit way? CCA Accounting Spreadsheets are designed specifically for not-for-profit purposes and they’re free! Functionality includes grant tracking, budgeting, project tracking and charity reporting in addition to your usual cashbook functionality.
RSVP: Online
Facilitator: Lynette and Tammy, Volunteering Canterbury
Venue: St Albans Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, St Albans, Christchurch
Cost: Free event
We can't emphasise enough how important recognition of volunteers is ... so, on offer at this session will be some simple tips (and examples) of the type of things you can prepare for your volunteers easily, quickly and economically. Also on offer at this session, a glimpse at Canva - how to turn a 'thank you' into something that looks polished and lets your volunteers know you value them. Bring your own tips and tricks to share! Get some great ideas now for celebrating volunteering during National Volunteer Week (16-24 June 2024).
RSVP: Via email
Yes that's right, it's back again by popular demand! Join us for our 2024 micro-volunteering project, Knit for Purpose!
Microvolunteering is bite-sized, on-demand, no commitment actions that benefit a worthy cause. This year, we once again invite you to get involved and knit or crochet squares or strips of squares for blankets, which will be donated to those in need in our community through local organisations.
All the info, including a pattern, can be found on our News Page.
Facilitator: Community Capacity Accounting (CCA)
Venue: Online
Cost: Free event
Tier 4 has changed radically in 2024, and is now a reasonably simple form rather than a set of financial statements. This workshop will talk Community Organisations through filling out all the required bits, and where the figures for the cash income and expenses section come from.
RSVP: Online
Facilitator: Garth Nowland-Foreman, from LEAD Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership
Venue: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central(Please enter the Aldersgate Centre from the rear door, via the car park. This can be accessed from Chester Street West. Spaces within the carpark are available to Governance Bites attendees from 5pm onwards.)
Cost: Free event
Non-profit boards only have authority as a group. What’s the different dynamics between individual and group decision-making? And what key difference in approach is required when making routine decision, and when looking to innovate to at least ensure we know what all the options are (beyond the same old-same old)? How can understanding the three key ‘mindsets’ that people can bring to governance decision-making help us make better decisions, and help us ensure we are asking the right questions. This session will provide participants with two useful tools that will help you in making better group decisions.
RSVP: Registrations essential, via email
Facilitator: Community Capacity Accounting (CCA)
Venue: Online
Cost: $35 inc GST
Tier 3 has changed significantly in 2024 – and the changes are not just cosmetic. This workshop is intended for accountants or financial administrators, who compile or generate Tier 3 reports for their community organisation or client, and assumes existing knowledge about the basics of accrual accounting and standardised financial reporting.
RSVP: Online
Host: Amanda, Airforce Museum of New Zealand
Venue: Airforce Museum, 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram
Cost: Free event
On the first Thursday of each month, we hold a Coffee & Chats peer support session for those who manage or coordinate a volunteer team, hosted each time by a different community organisation. This is an occasion to network with others from local not-for-profit groups and talk all things volunteering, and includes the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and support each other as we navigate the ever-changing community sector.
RSVP: Via email - it is essential that you RSVP for these events, please.
Facilitator: Community Capacity Accounting (CCA)
Venue: Online
Cost: Free event
Tier 4 has changed radically in 2024, and is now a reasonably simple form rather than a set of financial statements. This workshop will talk Community Organisations through filling out all the required bits, and where the figures for the cash income and expenses section come from.
RSVP: Online
Facilitator: Garth Nowland-Foreman, from LEAD Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership
Venue: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central(Please enter the Aldersgate Centre from the rear door, via the car park. This can be accessed from Chester Street West. Spaces within the carpark are available to Governance Bites attendees from 5pm onwards.)
Cost: Free event
While staying on the right side of the law is not the end of your work as a non-profit board member, it is a good place to start. In this session we will briefly look at how laws (written and unwritten) impact on your organisation. We will also remind ourselves what being incorporated means, why it is important, and how to avoid losing its crucial protections. Finally, we will uncover why Conflicts of Interest are not a problem, but how we deal with them can be if we don’t follow three simple rules.
RSVP: Registrations essential, via email
Facilitator: Department of Internal Afffairs (DIA)
Venue: St Albans Community Centre, Colombo Street (parking off Caledonian Road)
Cost: Free event
A useful face to face opportunity to hear what outcome-based accountability looks like from the funder’s desk. One of the messages from previous sessions similar to this is to remember that those on the end of the 'funders' phone are members of the community too and available to take that phone call with a question!
RSVP: Via email
Host: Patria, Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust
Venue: 230 Dyers Road, Bromley, Christchurch
Cost: Free event
On the first Thursday of each month, we hold a Coffee & Chats peer support session for those who manage or coordinate a volunteer team, hosted each time by a different community organisation. This is an occasion to network with others from local not-for-profit groups and talk all things volunteering, and includes the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and support each other as we navigate the ever-changing community sector.
RSVP: Via email - it is essential that you RSVP for these events, please.
Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu National Volunteer Week celebrates the collective contribution of all volunteers who enrich Aotearoa New Zealand.
Facilitator: Volunteering Canterbury
Venue: Civic Offices, 53 Hereford Street, Christchurch
During National Volunteer Week (16-22 June 2024), Volunteering Canterbury will present awards to nominated volunteers in Canterbury. These awards will recognise outstanding efforts and achievements by volunteers of all ages in all sectors. To find out more about the Awards and the nomination process, please visit our Awards page.
Facilitator: Garth Nowland-Foreman, from LEAD Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership
Venue: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central(Please enter the Aldersgate Centre from the rear door, via the car park. This can be accessed from Chester Street West. Spaces within the carpark are available to Governance Bites attendees from 5pm onwards.)
Cost: Free event
What exactly is the board’s role in oversight of the finances? What are Treasurers actually responsible for? How can you properly fulfil your obligations without micro-managing? What should we look for in financial reporting? What are the financial ‘red flags’ we need to keep an eye out for? What does every board member need to know about their finances? Why can’t we just rely on the audit or review?
RSVP: Registrations essential, via email
Facilitator: Community Capacity Accounting (CCA)
Venue: Online
Cost: $25
GST is an area where many organisations make mistakes. This workshop covers the particular issues to look out for when dealing with GST in a not-for-profit context. It does not cover the fundamentals of GST registration and filing GST returns.
RSVP: Online
Host: Leanne, Whareora House of Life
Venue: 8 Athelstan Street, Spreydon
Cost: Free event
On the first Thursday of each month, we hold a Coffee & Chats peer support session for those who manage or coordinate a volunteer team, hosted each time by a different community organisation. This is an occasion to network with others from local not-for-profit groups and talk all things volunteering, and includes the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and support each other as we navigate the ever-changing community sector.
RSVP: Via email - it is essential that you RSVP for these events, please.
Facilitator: Community Capacity Accounting (CCA)
Venue: Online
Cost: Free event
Tier 4 has changed radically in 2024, and is now a reasonably simple form rather than a set of financial statements. This workshop will talk Community Organisations through filling out all the required bits, and where the figures for the cash income and expenses section come from.
RSVP: Online
Facilitator: Garth Nowland-Foreman, from LEAD Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership
Venue: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central(Please enter the Aldersgate Centre from the rear door, via the car park. This can be accessed from Chester Street West. Spaces within the carpark are available to Governance Bites attendees from 5pm onwards.)
Cost: Free event
What can the board delegate, and what does it need to stay on top of? How do we balance our role in arms-length, independent supervision, and the need for engaged, collaborative support? How do we effectively balance a culture of checking and of cheer-leading? What are the critical elements of a ‘good employer’, and how does it become great? And what does that look like, when staff and volunteers are remote?
RSVP: Registrations essential, via email
Facilitator: Community Capacity Accounting (CCA)
Venue: Online
Cost: $35 inc GST
Tier 3 has changed significantly in 2024 – and the changes are not just cosmetic. This workshop is intended for accountants or financial administrators, who compile or generate Tier 3 reports for their community organisation or client, and assumes existing knowledge about the basics of accrual accounting and standardised financial reporting.
RSVP: Online
Facilitator: Chris Beardsley, Performance Matters
Venue: St Albans Community Centre, Colombo Street (parking off Caledonian Road)
Cost: Free event
This workshop will help participants deal appropriately with difficult conversations and adopt an approachable, open and empathetic communication style so that issues are confronted, others are influenced positively and relationships are successfully maintained. The additional benefits are that people learn how to be more authentic, handle stress and anxiety, increase the amount of discretionary energy for the job and generate great productivity.
RSVP: Via email
Facilitator: Volunteering Canterbury in conjunction with University of Canterbury
Venue: University of Canterbury
Cost: Free event
Our annual Student Volunteering Expo returns for 2024! Join us on campus to find out more about what's involved when you volunteer, and how you can give back to your community while gaining valuable skills - for life and your CV! Meet some of the incredible community organisations and charities we work with, ask your questions and find a place where you can make a difference.
Facilitator: Community Capacity Accounting (CCA)
Venue: Online
Cost: $25, optional
You’ve had your arm twisted to be the treasurer for your club or group but don’t feel confident about it. If that sounds familiar then this workshop is for you! The training covers: what a treasurer should and shouldn’t be responsible for; understanding financial information; important financial indicators for not-for-profits.
RSVP: Online
Host: Lottie, Canterbury Workers' Educational Association
Venue: 59 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central
Cost: Free event
On the first Thursday of each month, we hold a Coffee & Chats peer support session for those who manage or coordinate a volunteer team, hosted each time by a different community organisation. This is an occasion to network with others from local not-for-profit groups and talk all things volunteering, and includes the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and support each other as we navigate the ever-changing community sector.
RSVP: Via email - it is essential that you RSVP for these events, please.
Facilitator: Chris Beardsley, Performance Matters
Venue: St Albans Community Centre, Colombo Street (parking off Caledonian Road)
Cost: Free event
Ethical behaviour is about the values and rules we must abide by at work. Taking responsibility for our actions is essential when it comes to workplace ethics and behaviour. When we behave ethically, we respect the dignity, diversity and the rights of individuals including clients, team members and the organisation. Participants will capture their learnings in a ‘Learning Log’ in a workbook provided.
RSVP: Via email
Facilitator: Garth Nowland-Foreman, from LEAD Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership
Venue: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central(Please enter the Aldersgate Centre from the rear door, via the car park. This can be accessed from Chester Street West. Spaces within the carpark are available to Governance Bites attendees from 5pm onwards.)
Cost: Free event
As they say, it’s easy to “take minutes and waste hours”. Typical agendas actually make good meetings more difficult, and who knows the difference between individual decision-making vs the group decision-making needed on boards? Can we be more efficient at our meetings? Maybe even more effective? And perhaps even actually enjoy them? It’s all possible and this participatory workshop will offer several practical tools to help make it happen.
RSVP: Registrations essential, via email
Facilitator: Garth Nowland-Foreman, from LEAD Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership
Venue: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central(Please enter the Aldersgate Centre from the rear door, via the car park. This can be accessed from Chester Street West. Spaces within the carpark are available to Governance Bites attendees from 5pm onwards.)
Cost: Free event
All you need to know about recruiting non-profit and community board members. What makes a good board member, where do you find them, and how do you get them interested in your organisation? What are the three biggest traps in recruitment? And how do you get the most of new board members after they are on-board? And then … this is the tough stuff … despite our best intentions and event efforts, we can still end up with the wrong people on board for various reasons. How do you tackle the difficult tasks of ‘sacking’ board member? After all, board members are ‘just volunteers’. How do you actually get the result you need, but also still act with some grace? How can succession planning actually happen in practice in small organisations, and how do you deal with ‘founder syndrome’ when founders have out-lasted their value for the organisation and may even be holding it back?
RSVP: Registrations essential, via email
Facilitator: Community Capacity Accounting (CCA)
Venue: Online
Cost: Free event
Tier 4 has changed radically in 2024, and is now a reasonably simple form rather than a set of financial statements. This workshop will talk Community Organisations through filling out all the required bits, and where the figures for the cash income and expenses section come from.
RSVP: Online
Facilitator: NZ Police Vetting Centre, Wellington
Venue: St Albans Community Centre, Colombo Street (parking off Caledonian Road)
Cost: Free event
For this session we will be linking with the team in Wellington, who will give an overview of the Police Vetting services provided, with an opportunitie to ask your questions.
RSVP: Via email
Facilitator: Garth Nowland-Foreman, from LEAD Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership
Venue: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central(Please enter the Aldersgate Centre from the rear door, via the car park. This can be accessed from Chester Street West. Spaces within the carpark are available to Governance Bites attendees from 5pm onwards.)
Cost: Free event
Everyone wants to be strategic these days. It is used to refer to deceit and trickery in reality TV shows. As an adjective it makes any object or activity sound very important. But does it actually have any practical meaning left? What is a strategy and how is it different from a plan? Where does mot strategy come from, and what is a realistic approach to developing a strategy for your organisation? And what really is the Board’s role in strategy (especially where there also is staff)? Participation in non-profit boards provides individuals with an opportunity to influence impact in our city. This workshop offers practical tools and approaches to help a board lead organisation strategy.
RSVP: Registrations essential, via email
Facilitator: Glenda Martin, Volunteering Canterbury
Venue: St Albans Community Centre, Colombo Street (on-site parking accessed via Caledonian Road)
Cost: Free event
RSVP: Via email
International Volunteer Managers Day is an international event held annually on 5 November. This is a day to recognise those who lead, support, train and mentor volunteers in the community.
Facilitator: Garth Nowland-Foreman, from LEAD Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership
Venue: Aldersgate Centre, 309 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central(Please enter the Aldersgate Centre from the rear door, via the car park. This can be accessed from Chester Street West. Spaces within the carpark are available to Governance Bites attendees from 5pm onwards.)
Cost: Free event
Chairs have one of the most demanding jobs in a non-profit. What is realistic and what are the essentials? Can we look again at sharing roles around the board table? One of the key roles of a chair is to facilitate the board as a group – especially in its core role as group decision-makers. And given participation is the purpose if you are going to bother calling a meeting, how can a chair best facilitate real participation that will energise and enthuse board members, and get the best possible decisions from a diverse group? We will look at some practical tools and frameworks to help make this happen in real world non-profit boards.
RSVP: Registrations essential, via email
International Volunteer Day (IVD) is an international event run by UN Volunteers and celebrated every year on 5 December. The purpose of IVD is to recognize and support the spirit of volunteerism to help create a better future. It champions the impact volunteers have in communities, nationally and globally.