Photo Gallery

20 Sep 2024

VolCan at VNZ Hui

Our team had an awesome couple of days attending the 2024 Volunteering New Zealand Changemakers Hui - Engage, Unite, Ignite! We learnt a lot from some fantastic speakers on the topics of resilience for community organisations, emergent tech, particularly the evolving AI landscape, valuing volunteers, engaging young volunteers, and new tools for navigating challenging behaviour. Thank you to Volunteering New Zealand and their team for their hard work and organisation in bringing the conference together!

Five members of the VolCan team, standing together outside the entrance to the VNZ Hui Hon Louise Upston, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, speaking on stage Michelle Kitney, CE for Volunteering New Zealand, speaking on stage The conference room, overlooking tables of audience members, and the stage at the front Members of the VCNA at the entrance to the Hui
15 Sep 2024

Celebrating Diversity at Selwyn CultureFest!

We had a blast at the Selwyn CultureFest 2024! What a great turnout of attendees, and a wonderful celebration of the diversity of the region. Visitors to our stall micro-volunteered by decorating paper Bags of Hope for the Cancer Society, resulting in a large number of beautiful bags! Thank you to everyone who came along.

Two VolCan volunteers standing at the Volunteering Canterbury stall at Selwyn CultureFest 2024 VolCan stall at Selwyn CultureFest, busy with attendees decorating paper bags Selwyn District Mayor Sam Broughton at the Selwyn CultureFest, with VolCan volunteers from Clearview Primary School Attendees at the Selwyn CultureFest decorating Bags of Hope for Cancer Society Attendees at the VolCan stall of Selwyn CultureFest Attendees at the VolCan stall of Selwyn CultureFest Completed Bags of Hope
6 Aug 2024

Delivering Knit for Purpose Blankets

This year recipients of our Knit for Purpose blankets were organisations providing hospital support - Nurse Maude, Burwood Spinal Trust, Ronald McDonald House, and Ranui House. We also provided blankets to Qtopia and Nest Collective for the people they support.

In 2024, the team of amazing Knit for Purpose volunteers donated 1,913 knitted or crocheted squares, which were stitched into 34 cosy blankets!

A massive thank you to all those involved. Your kindness has made the world a warmer, better place.

A staff member from Nurse Maude, with their Knit for Purpose blankets A staff member from Ranui House with a pile of Knit for Purpose blankets Two staff members from Ronald McDonald House with piles of Knit for Purpose blankets Two members of Nest Collective with their Knit for Purpose blankets A staff member from Qtopia with their Knit for Purpose blankets Coloured balls of yarn arranged in a circle, text in the centre reads "Knit for Purpose 2024: 34 Blankets, 1913 squares"
17 Jun 2024

2024 Volunteer Recognition Awards!

What an incredible afternoon celebrating the volunteers of Ōtautahi Christchurch and surrounding Districts, at our 2024 Volunteer Recognition Awards! Congratulations to the 52 Award recipients for their incredible Mahi!

Special thanks goes to:
Mayor Phil Mauger and Christchurch City Council for supporting our event;
Mandy Kennedy, CEO of Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, Ranui House - our wonderful Guest Speaker;
Luka Willems - our delightful and very entertaining StarJam performer;
Tina Cooper - thte designer and creator of our beautiful Harakeke Clusters;
Mandy Caldwell - our amazing photographer!

The 2024 Award recipients Group, sitting and standing on stage holding their certificates The 2024 Award Recipient Group, sitting and standing in funny poses on stage Guest Speaker, Mandy Kennedy, CEO of Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, delivering her address Mayor of Christchurch, Phil Mauger, delivering his address StarJam performer, Luka Willems, entertaining the crowd StarJam performer, Luka Willems, entertaining the crowd Volunteering Canterbury staff Tammy and Mary Ellen, welcoming guests at the door The Volunteer Recognition Award certificates, displayed on a table The Harakeke Clusters, displayed on a table Team Woodham, Wayne and Judy Visitor Experience Volunteer Team, Air Force Museum NZ Visitor Experience Volunteer Team, Air Force Museum of NZ Volunteer Team representative Deidre Graham, Bellyful Selwyn Volunteer Team reresentative Deidre Graham, Bellyful Selwyn Tutors Group representative, Peter Cotterell, Birthright Canterbury Tutors Group representative, Peter Cotterell, Birthright Canterbury Patrick Boyle, Blind Low Vision NZ Volunteer Team representative, Trisha Coffin, Book Discussion Scheme Volunteer Team representative, Trisha Coffin, Book Discussion Scheme Steve Hagerty, Cancer Society Canterbury West Coast Steve Hagerty, Cancer Society Canterbury West Coast Judy Stewart, Christchurch City Mission Judy Stewart, Christchurch City Mission Anne Johnston, Christchurch Community House Anne Johnston, Christchurch Community House Wednesday Wayfinding Team representative, Sarah Scadden, Christchurch Hospital Volunteers Wednesday Wayfinding Team representative, Sarah Scadden, Christchurch Hospital Volunteers Ian Kinley, Church Corner Toy Library Ian Kinley, Church Corner Toy Library Frank Morgan, Church of the Resurrection, Rolleston Frank Morgan, Church of the Resurrection, Rolleston Ronnie Davey, Citizens Advice Bureau Christchurch Ronnie Davey, Citizens Advice Burea Christchurch Carolyn Tapley, Coastguard NZ Volunteer Team representative, Helen Clarke, Darnley Club Volunteer Team representative, Helen Clarke, Darnley Club Anita Kyle, Department of Corrections Rolleston Prison Anita Kyle, Department of Corrections Rolleston Prison Margaret Basil-Jones, English Language Partners Margaret Basil-Jones, English Language Partners Eve Earl, Family Drug Support Aotearoa NZ Eve Earl, Family Drug Support Aotearoa NZ Howard Harvey, Friendship Music Charitable Trust Howard Harvey, Friendship Music Charitable Trust Christine Evans-Millar, Hohepa Canterbury Christine Evans-Millar, Hohepa Canterbury Jesse Stapleton, Imagination Station Jesse Stapleton, Imagination Station Exercise for Seniors Instructors representative, Anita Corrigan, Keep Active Exercise for Seniors Instructors representative, Anita Corrigan, Keep Active Ngaire Kent, Kirewee Community Association Ngaire Kent, Kirewee Community Association Harry Rutledge, Life Education Trust Canterbury Harry Rutledge, Life Education Trust Canterbury Brian Whittington, Lions Club of Rolleston and Districts Brian Whittington, Lions Club of Rolleston and Districts Johnny Milne, Lyttelton Community House Johnny Milne, Lyttelton Community House Rosemary Hall, Nurture Trust Rosemary Hall, Nurture Trust Styx River and Carlyle Valley Predator Control Group representative, Trevor Robb, NZ Conservation Trust Styx River and Carlyle Valley Predator Control Group representative, Trevor Robb, NZ Conservation Trust Volunteer Mentors Group representative, Nicholas Smyth, Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou Volunteer Mentors Group representative, Nicholas Smyth, Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou Una Anderson, Pregnancy Infancy Parenting Support Una Anderson, Pregnancy Infancy Parenting Support Family Works Youth Mentors Group Representative, Mel McLauchlan, Presbyterian Support Upper South Island Family Works Youth Mentors Group Representative, Mel McLauchlan, Presbyterian Support Upper South Island Nikhita Riches, Recreate NZ Hayley Guglietta, Richmond Community Garden Riverlution Hayley Guglietta, Richmond Community Garden Riverlution Fred Dodson, Rolleston College Fred Dodson, Rolleston College Marion Ryder, Rotary Community Breastmilk Bank Marion Ryder, Rotary Community Breastmilk Bank Charlotte MacLean, Silverstream Reserve Charlotte MacLean, Silverstream Reserve Greg Brown, St Barnabas Fendalton Greg Brown, St Barnabas Fendalton Barbara Baker, St John of God Barbara Baker, St John of God Allan Hudson, St Mary the Virgin Anglican Church Allan Hudson, St Mary the Virgin Anglican Church Canterbury Volunteers Group representative Michelle Gillman, Taskforce Kiwi Canterbury Volunteers Group representative Michelle Gillman, Taskforce Kiwi Malvern Community Arts Council Volunteers group representative, Jane Duncan, Te Huanui Art Gallery in Darfield Friends of Ōtukaikino group representative, Jean Bell, The Living Memorial Trust Friends of Ōtukaikino group representative, Jean Bell, The Living Memorial Trust Imogene Ashton, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Imogene Ashton, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Helen Clarke, reading her poem "Volunteers"
8 Jun 2024

Knitting for Purpose on World Wide Knit in Public Day

There was a buzz in the air on 8th June, World Wide Knit in Public Day, as our wonderful micro-volunteers got together for Knit for Purpose! We were joined by Emily from Star Media who was as delighted as we were to see so many volunteers coming together Make Their Mahi Have Meaning, resulting in 1,913 knitted or crocheted squares, and 34 finished blankets! Thank you to everyone who participated, we have been blown away once again by your incredible work! ❤️

Knitters sitting around a table piled high with knitted blankets and peggy squares Knitters sitting around a table piled high with knitted blankets and peggy squares Four women knitting Women knitting A pile of folded, knitted blankets Emily, from StarMedia, standing beside the table covered with knitted blankets and peggy squares