Photo Gallery

5 Aug 2023

Knit for Purpose: The Big Handover!

We were delighted to conclude our Knit for Purpose Micro-volunteering Project with The Big Handover! Thanks to the impressive work of many volunteers, we were able to gift 14 beautiful, handmade blankets to some very deserving community organisations, including Birthright Canterbury, The Nest Collective Christchurch and Age Concern Canterbury. These will be put to excellent use amongst the people and clients they support.
Thank you to all the many volunteers who contributed to the project - knitting, sewing, donating - you are all SUPER STARS!! Special mention to Mark Peters, City Councillor for Hornby Ward, who supported our project and presented the amazing volunteers with certificates of appreciation for all their knitting and sewing efforts.

Volunteering Canterbury banner, behind a table covered with folded blankets, wrapped in ribbons Councillor Mark Peters presenting a bundle of blankets to Katie Faithful, from Age Concern Canterbury Councillor Mark Peters presenting a bundle of blankets to Rhodora Sagles, from Birthright Canterbury Trust Councillor Mark Peters presenting a bundle of blankets to Glenis McNab, from The Nest Collective Christchurch Leanda, a volunteer knitter, recieving a Certificate of Appreciation Robyn, a volunteer knitter, receiving a Certificate of Appreciation Monique, a volunteer knitter, receiving a Certificate of Appreciation Cathrine, a volunteer knitter, receiving a Certificate of Appreciation
2 Aug 2023

Student Volunteer Expo 2023

Each year, our Student Volunteer Expo is run in partnership with the University of Canterbury and proves itself year after year as being something of interest and value both to the students and the organisations which take up the opportunity to attend. In 2023, we had 26 community organisations there to talk to students about getting involved on volunteer teams, and just over 300 students come through the expo!

Glenda Martin, her service dog Kobe, and Maia the Heart Kids Bear Mascot, at the Student Volunteer Expo A large room full of university students, talking with community organisation representatives about volunteering [A large room full of university students, talking with community organisation representatives about volunteering A large room full of university students, talking with community organisation representatives about volunteering
20 Jun 2023

Volunteer Recognition Awards 2023

What a fantastic afternoon of celebration we had today, honouring 27 individuals and 11 groups with Volunteer Recognition Awards! Our thanks goes to Mayor Phil Mauger, for being a part of this important occasion, and his valuable message of support.

Thank you to Guest Speaker, Rev Nicky Lee, Deacon at Christchurch Cathedral for her words of wisdom, and Youth Violinist, Georgia Daly, for entertaining us with her stunning performance. Thank you also to Tina Cooper, Creative Designer, for the beautiful Harakeke Clusters and photographer, Jim Huang, who stepped in last minute and saved the day!

A group photo of all 2023 Award Recipients on stage Phil Mauger, Mayor of Christchurch, giving a message of support Guest Speaker, Rev Nick Lee, Deacon at Christhurch Cathedral Georgia Daly, Youth Violinist, providing entertainment Gordon Osten, from Age Concern Canterbury, receiving his Award Gordon Osten, from Age Concern Canterbury, receiving his Award Pauline Collett, from Blind Low Vision NZ, receiving her Award Pauline Collett, from Blind Low Vision NZ, receiving her Award Wendy Niles, from Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, receiving her Award [Wendy Niles, from Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, receiving her Award Cantabrainers Volunteer Group, from Cantabrainers Therapeutic Choir, receiving their Award Cantabrainers Volunteer Group, from Cantabrainers Therapeutic Choir, receiving their Award Joyce Latham, from Cats Protection League Canterbury, receiving her Award Anglican Archives Volunteers, from Christchurch Anglican Diocesan Archives, receiving their Award Anglican Archives Volunteers, from Christchurch Anglican Diocesan Archives, receiving their Award Emmanuel Christian School Graffiti Clean Up Team, from Christchurch City Council Graffiti Removal Programme, receiving their Award Emmanuel Christian School Graffiti Clean Up Team, from Christchurch City Council Graffiti Removal Programme, receiving their Award Sandra Palmer, from Christchurch Hospital Volunteers, receiving her Award Sandra Palmer, from Christchurch Hospital Volunteers, receiving her Award Team Leaders, from Clothed in Love, receiving their Award Team Leaders, from Clothed in Love, receiving their Award Kaiapoi Community Support Team, from Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust, receiving their Award Kaiapoi Community Support Team, from Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust, receiving their Award Garden Club Leaders, from Clearview Primary School, receiving their Award Garden Club Leaders, from Clearview Primary School, receiving their Award Blair Quane, from Coastguard New Zealand, receiving his Award Blair Quane, from Coastguard New Zealand, receiving his Award Eleanor Capper, from English Language Partners, receiving her Award Eleanor Capper, from English Language Partners, receiving her Award Cate Walton, from Family Drug Support Aotearoa NZ, receiving her Award Cate Walton, from Family Drug Support Aotearoa NZ, receiving her Award GWC Regalia Hire Team, from Graduate Women Canterbury, receiving their Award GWC Regalia Hire Team, from Graduate Women Canterbury, receiving their Award Jason Yen, from Hagley Adult Literacy Centre, receiving his Award Jason Yen, from Hagley Adult Literacy Centre, receiving his Award Tim Gostomski, from Hapai Access Card, receiving his Award Tim Gostomski, from Hapai Access Card, receiving his Award Richard Menzies, from Hato Hone St John, receiving his Award Richard Menzies, from Hato Hone St John, receiving his Award Sarah Route-Stephens, from Hohepa Canterbury, receiving her Award Sarah Route-Stephens, from Hohepa Canterbury, receiving her Award Kathleen Vaeatangitau, from Hornby Rotary Club Project to Tonga, receiving her Award Kathleen Vaeatangitau, from Hornby Rotary Club Project to Tonga, receiving her Award Petronella Spicer, from Lifeline Aotearoa, receiving an Award Petronella Spicer, from Lifeline Aotearoa, receiving an Award Meals on Wheels & Waves Group, from Lyttelton Community House, receiving an Award Meals on Wheels & Waves Group, from Lyttelton Community House, receiving an Award June Inch, from Oxford Arts Trust, receiving an Award June Inch, from Oxford Arts Trust, receiving an Award Jan Vandeputte, from Pregnancy, Infancy, Parenting Support, receiving an Award Jan Vandeputte, from Pregnancy, Infancy, Parenting Support, receiving an Award Ashleigh Clarke, from Presbyterian Support Upper South Island, receiving an Award Ashleigh Clarke, from Presbyterian Support Upper South Island, receiving an Award John Tarry, from Recreate NZ, receiving an Award John Tarry, from Recreate NZ, receiving an Award Julie Gunby, from Rolleston Hope Op Shop, receiving an Award Julie Gunby, from Rolleston Hope Op Shop, receiving an Award Rolleston Volunteer Fire Brigade Team, from Rolleston Volunteer Fire Brigade, receiving an Award Rolleston Volunteer Fire Brigade Team, from Rolleston Volunteer Fire Brigade, receiving an Award Selwyn Emergency Support Team, Selwyn Emergency Management, receiving an Award Selwyn Emergency Support Team, Selwyn Emergency Management, receiving an Award Anne Harris, from St John of God, receiving an Award Anne Harris, from St John of God, receiving an Award Thalia Rae, from Student Volunteer Army, receiving an Award Thalia Rae, from Student Volunteer Army, receiving an Award Community Kai Volunteer Group, Hope Community Trust, receiving an Award Community Kai Volunteer Group, Hope Community Trust, receiving an Award Sheryl Plew, from West Melton Gymnastics Club, receiving an Award Sheryl Plew, from West Melton Gymnastics Club, receiving an Award Robyn Murray, from Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, receiving an Award Robyn Murray, from Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, receiving an Award Margaret Wilson Boyle, from Write on School for Young Writers, receiving an Award Margaret Wilson Boyle, from Write on School for Young Writers, receiving an Award Tamara Syme, from Youthline Central South Island, receiving an Award Tamara Syme, from Youthline Central South Island, receiving an Award Team Leaders, from Clothed in Love, receiving an Award Wendy Niles, from Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, receiving an Award Sarah Route-Stephens, from Hohepa Canterbury, receiving an Award Cate Walton, from Family Drug Support Aotearoa NZ, receiving an Award Kaiapoi Community Support Team, from Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust, with their Award Community Kai Volunteer Group, from Hope Community Trust, with their Award Garden Club, from Clearview School, with their Award Cantabrainers Volunteer Group, from Cantabrainers Therapeutic Choir, with their Award GWC Regalia Hire Team, from Graduate Women Canterbury, with their Award Selwyn Emergency Support Team, from Selwyn Emergency Management, with their Award Tamara Syme, from Youthline Central South Island, with her Award Meals on Wheels & Waves Group, from Lyttelton Community House, with their Award Petronella Spicer, from Lifeline Aotearoa, with her Award
10 Jun 2023

Knit for Purpose on Worldwide Knit in Public Day

What an amazing turnout for the culmination of our micro-volunteering project, Knit for Purpose! We had a fantastic afternoon on Worldwide Knit in Public Day with two groups getting together, in Christchurch and in Rolleston. So many wonderful individuals joined in to drop off finished squares, start sewing blankets together & chat with other like-minded knitters. We would like to give a huge shout out to everyone single person who has taken part in this project. Your efforts have been incredible and the end result has far exceeded our expectations!! Many thanks also go to our colleagues at Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury, with whom we collaborated on this wonderful project.

A group of people sit knitting, around a table laden with peggy squares, balls of yarn and knitting needles A group of people sit knitting, around a table laden with peggy squares, balls of yarn and knitting needles A large table covered in knitted peggy squares, balls of yarn and knitting needles A group of people stand behind a table covered in knitted peggy squares Two women lay out peggy squares, ready to be sewn together into blankets Two women hold knitted blankets, ready for donating Haidee, from Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury, knitting a peggy square Holly, from Department of Corrections, holding a box of knitted peggy squares, donated by Christchurch Womens' Prison A generous volunteer, Jane, dropped off her knittedd squares at Christchurch Community House A collection point for wool & knitting at KPMG Christchurch office, with "Limo" pizzas that look like peggy squares Alison, from Volunteering Canterbury, knitting during a team meeting A large pile of donated wool, needles and knitted peggy squares
19 May 2023

School Students Gift Fridays to Silverstream Reserve

Recently, a team of 20 students from Loburn School Te Kura Aromauka have gifted each Friday afternoon of Term 2 towards helping out at Silverstream Reserve. These wonderful students have so far undertaken a variety of tasks to support the optimal growth of trees and grasses in the reserve. Wonderful work everyone!

A group of students from Loburn School Te Kura Aromauka, standing outdoors in Silverstream Reserve Students from Loburn School Te Kura Aromauka planting and guarding seedlings in Silverstream Reserve Students from Loburn School Te Kura Aromauka planting and guarding seedlings in Silverstream Reserve