Photo Gallery

25 Jul 2022

A visit from VNZ Chief Executive

On 25 July 2022, Volunteering New Zealand’s Kaihautu Chief Executive, Michelle Kitney, was in our region, and we were delighted to have an opportunity to catch up with her to talk current trends, challenges and opportunities within volunteer programmes, particularly following the past two years of uncertainty and change associated with the global pandemic. Michelle is passionate about working collaboratively and with impact within our sector and has a range of experience including mar-coms and social marketing, compliance and research. She has also volunteered extensively in community organisations that provide services and support for whanau and children and is currently the Chair of Bellyful New Zealand. Our colleagues at Volunteering Mid-South Canterbury are celebrating their 15th Anniversary and so it has been a celebratory week providing some great opportunities for us to sit down and talk volunteering with Michelle and our colleagues at Mid-South. Volunteering Canterbury provided support for that Centre’s opening and continues to collaborate closely with the team, as well as with our other colleagues at Volunteer Centres throughout New Zealand, as part of the Volunteer Centre Network Aotearoa (VCNA)

Seven people standing in front of a Volunteering Canterbury banner. VNZ Chief Executive Michelle Kitney in the centre, surrounded by VolCan staff, board members, and representatives from member organisations
24 Jun 2022

Celebrating Matariki

This year National Volunteer week (19-25 June) coincided with Matariki so we wanted to celebrate our 🌟Volunteer Stars🌟 not just at our awards ceremony on Monday but all week long in our office Matariki display! What an amazing bunch of people, doing some incredible things out in the community. This is their time to shine!

A floor to ceiling window with the Volunteering Canterbury logo in the centre. A sign says "Volunteer Recognition Awards 2022. Celebrating our volunteer 'stars'". The window is dotted with star shapes, within which are the photos of the 2022 Award recipients
20 Jun 2022

2023 Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards

On 20 June 2022, we held our annual Volunteer Recognition Awards at the Christchurch Civic Offices. As usual this was a wonderful event, celebrating the volunteer stars of our community! What an honour to join together with such amazing Cantabrians, to give them their moment of deserved recognition!

A group photo of the 2022 Award recipients with their awards, seated and standing on and around the stage Zoli Somlyai, from Age Concern Canterbury, receiving his Award on stage Brian Reddington, from Brackenridge Services, receiving his Award on stage Brian Reddington, from Brackenridge Services, receiving his Award on stage Jack Chorle, from Christchurch Community House Trust, receiving his Award on stage Sanjeewa Thanushka, from City Park Community Patrol, receiving his Award on stage Sanjeewa Thanushka, from City Park Community Patrol, receiving his Award on stage Aynsley Macleod, from Clothed in Love, receiving her Award on stage Aynsley Macleod, from Clothed in Love, receiving her Award on stage Rachel McKenzie, from Coastguard Canterbury, receiving her Award on stage Rachel McKenzie, from Coastguard Canterbury, receiving her Award on stage Lucy Robinson, from Collective for the Homeless, receiving her Award on stage Lucy Robinson, from Collective for the Homeless, receiving her Award on stage Paolo Saul, from Digital Future Aotearoa, receiving his Award on stage Paolo Saul, from Digital Future Aotearoa, receiving his Award on stage Two representatives from Dress for Success, receiving their Award on stage Two representatives from Dress for Success, receiving their Award on stage Emma Brook, from Ellesmere College, receiving her Award on stage Lois Moore, from English Language Partners, receiving her Award on stage Lois Moore, from English Language Partners, receiving her Award on stage Anna O-Keefe, from Family Drug Support Aotearoa NZ, receiving her Award on stage Anna O-Keefe, from Family Drug Support Aotearoa NZ, receiving her Award on stage A representative of the Restore Volunteers Project Team, from Habitat for Humanity, receiving their Award on stage Les Gray, from Hagley Adult Literacy Centre, receiving his Award on stage Les Gray, from Hagley Adult Literacy Centre, receiving his Award on stage Representatives of the Hapai Access Card Volunteer Team, from Hapai Access Card, receiving their Award Representatives of the Hapai Access Card Volunteer Team, from Hapai Access Card, receiving their Award Representatives of the Hapai Access Card Volunteer Team, from Hapai Access Card, receiving their Award Sally Kearns, from Hohepa Canterbury, receiving her Award on stage Sally Kearns, from Hohepa Canterbury, receiving her Award on stage Tricia De Haan, from IHC Volunteer Friendship Programme, receiving her Award on stage Representatives of Brick School Leaders, from Imagination Station, receiving their Award on stage Representatives of Brick School Leaders, from Imagination Station, receiving their Award on stage Simon Loi, from Lifeline Aotearoa, receiving his Award on stage Simon Loi, from Lifeline Aotearoa, receiving his Award on stage Paul Hale, from Linwood Avenue Community Corner Trust, receiving his Award on stage Paul Hale, from Linwood Avenue Community Corner Trust, receiving his Award on stage Greg Wright, from North Canterbury Mini Bus Trust, receiving his Award on stage Greg Wright, from North Canterbury Mini Bus Trust, receiving his Award on stage Erin Manning, from Perinatal Wellbeing Canterbury, receiving her Award on stage Fleur Fanselow, from PIPS, receiving her Award on stage Fleur Fanselow, from PIPS, receiving her Award on stage Alannah Campbell, from Presbyterian Support Upper South Island, receiving her Award on stage Jennifer Greening, from Prisoners Aid and Reintegration Society Canterbury, receiving her Award on stage Representatives of Radio Lollipop Volunteers, from Radio Lollipop, receiving their Award on stage Representatives of Radio Lollipop Volunteers, from Radio Lollipop, receiving their Award on stage Barbara Robertson, from Ronald McDonald House South Island, receiving her Award on stage Liz Courtney, from Rotary International District 9970, receiving her Award on stage Representatives of the Selwyn Response Team receiving their Awards on stage Deborah Alexander, from West Christchurch Women’s Refuge Society Incorporated, receiving her Award on stage Maree Andrews, from Youthline Central South Island, receiving her Award on stage Five members of the Selwyn Response team with their Award, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Simon Loi with his Award, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Simon Loi and a supporter, with his Award, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Five members of the Radio Lollipop team with their Award, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Sanjeewa Thanushka and two supporters, with his Award, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Zoli Somlyai and a supporter, with his Award, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Jack Chorle and a supporter, with his Award, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Tricia De Haan and a supporter, with her Award and a bunch of flowers, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Representatives from Imagination Station and their Award, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Zoli Somlyai and a supporter, with his Award, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner Greg Wright and a supporter, in front of the Volunteering Canterbury banner A table covered in a red cloth, displaying the Harakeke Clusters given to each Award recipient Two tables displaying the framed Award certificates, and the Volunteering Canterbury banner Tane & Aka, of Twin Harmony, singing and playing guitar on stage Guest Speaker, Loudon Keir, from Hapai Access Card, speaking on stage The Volunteering Canterbury staff team on stage. From left to right: Mary Ellen, Lizzie, Alison, Tammy & Glenda
2 Jun 2022

First post-Covid networking event

On 2nd June 2022, our Outreach Manager, Glenda, enjoyed the first social networking get together post-covid with other local not for profits in our community. What a great opportunity to share experiences and support each other as we navigate the ever-changing community sector together.

Five people sit around a cafe table with cups of coffee, notebooks and pens
1 Jun 2022

A visit to Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury

On 1st June 2022, the VolCan team met up with the lovely team from Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury in Ashburton, to talk volunteering, collaboration and eat cake! 🎂 Great conversation, a zoom check-in with Volunteering New Zealand's Chief Executive, and, yes, a very fine cake!

Six staff from the Volunteering Canterbury and Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury teams around a table, with laptops, notebooks, and a cake