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Start by registering on our online database. If you would simply prefer to talk through current volunteer options available, we can meet with you. Telephone us to make an appointment.
Latest News & Events
Keep up to date with what we are doing at Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury.
Do you have a heART for art?
The Aigantighe Art Gallery and Ashburton Art Gallery have volunteer roles available. Both Art Galleries are looking for volunteers to assist in a front of house role as Front Desk helpers.
Volunteers provide a meet and greet customer service, helping with inquiries from visitors and assist gallery staff members.
The Art Galleries offer programmes for children and volunteer assistance to help with these creative learning experiences is also needed.
To find out more about these volunteering roles go to Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury database - msc.volunteermatch.org.nz/
We all want to live in safe communities and thanks to the Volunteers with local community organisations Ashburton Town Watch and Timaru Community Patrol we can rest easy with these great volunteers being additional eyes and ears to support the work of NZ Police. In pairs, travelling in a ca,r volunteers patrol the streets in both urban and rural areas in an effort to maintain a safer community.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering with one of the patrols in Ashburton or Timaru go to msc.volunteermatch.org.nz/ to find out more and be connected to these organisations.
Being a young and busy Mum is no barrier to volunteering for the Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury and the Hotel Ashburton Volunteer of the Month – Lauren Peterson.
Lauren is a great choice for this month’s Volunteer of the Month, with the National Volunteer Week theme of “the benefits of working together” as she was nominated by Whanau Awhina Plunket and Hakatere Multi Cultural Council/Newcomers Network.
Lauren began her volunteering with Plunket in September 2017. Whilst juggling a young family as a full time mum, she still manages time to volunteer to support young families in Mid Canterbury. Lauren joined us as a volunteer cleaner for the Hinds Plunket Rooms and this evolved to a lead role supporting the hosting of the Ashburton Parents Coffee Morning which meets every Wednesday at the Ashburton Plunket Centre. The group is jointly organised by Plunket and Hakatere Multicultural Council. Lauren is always keen to help out in other areas if she is asked to.
The nominators said they wanted to show that anyone can volunteer and as a young mother with pre-schoolers, that it is possible to manage your time and give back to the community.
Lauren really enjoys volunteering because not only is she giving and helping but she to receives through the social side of interacting, especially with other young Mum’s and through her volunteering friendships have been made.
Her role at the coffee morning is one that Lauren, describes as simple, yet is it is a very important and necessary role. Her role involves helping set up for the morning tea, being a hostess, welcoming those who attend and especially keeping an eye for those who are new to the group to ensure everyone is included, chatting with attendees and then to help with cleaning up afterwards.
What Lauren really like about her hostessing is that she is able to take her child with her and it doesn’t take up a lot of her time. Her volunteering in the cleaning role works for her because there is flexibility when she can carry this out so it works in with her other activities.
Lauren said she was surprised at how easy it was too volunteer. She would most certainly encourage other people to volunteer and believes there is a volunteering opportunity available for most people.
As well as being a coffee morning hostess and cleaning Lauren also gives her time as part of the Breastfeeding Support Group, where she has a coffee and chat with other Mum’s, sharing their experiences.
Lauren plans to continue volunteering in the future and likes that she is not locked into the role for life. She suspects that as her child grows the groups she gets involved with will change.
We encourage organisations and groups to get nominations in for the Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury & the Hotel Ashburton Volunteer of the Month. Nomination forms are available by contacting Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury, Community House, 44 Cass Street Ashburton, ph 3081237 ext 240 or email volmidcant@gmail.com or pick up a copy at Four Square in Rakaia
Are you wanting to volunteer but don’t have a lot of time – what about one of these?
Blind Low Vision NZ - Bikkie Day 2020 - - 7th August – They are looking for people to bake and sell puppy-shaped bikkies to raise funds to help breed and train guide dogs, and fund the other critical services we provide for New Zealanders who are blind or have low vision.
Lions Clubs throughout the country regularly collect can tabs, as well as the screw tops off wine bottles, which also contain aluminium and can be recycled in the same way. The tabs are sold to recyclers and the funds raised are passed on to the Kidney Kids Support Group.
Cancer Society Pink Ribbon Breakfast in July - they may be a little later than usual… but they can’t wait to have you on board to host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast this July!
They’re excited to see the hosts get creative and find new ways to fundraise this year. You could host your breakfast on video call or take on a new challenge like a head shave, step count or organise a mufti day. The most important thing is enjoying yourself and helping us work towards our vision of zero deaths from breast cancer.
If you would like to find out more about these volunteering opportunities contact Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury
Mid Cantebury office – ph Dellwyn on 3081237 ext 240 or email volmidcant@gmail.com
South Cantebury office – ph Lou on 6877364 or email Lou@vmsc.org.nz
Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury are very grateful to the Ashburton District Council for their recent grant.
The financial support of funder's such as the Ashburton District Council enables us to recruit and refer volunteers, provide training's and networking, advocate, support and inform on volunteering matters, promote volunteering and recognise and celebrate volunteers.
Thank you Ashburton District Council for supporting Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury and supporting volunteering in our community.
Our Services
We work with volunteers and with community organisations.
For Volunteers
Volunteering is any activity that involves giving your unpaid time, energy and skills for the greater good.
Volunteers create positive changes in many areas.
Human rights, faith communities, health, education, sports and recreation, social services, arts and culture, emergency services, the environment and conservation, animal welfare, and community support development – and that’s just the beginning.
For Community Organisations
Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury offers support in all things volunteering.
We are here to support volunteers and voluntary organisations. We provide training, information, advocacy, recruitment, placement, recognition and promotion of volunteering.
Community Accounts Service
Bookkeeping assistance for not-for-profit groups.
Groups who are FINANCIAL MEMBERS of Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury, can benefit from FREE ADVICE, and SUPPORT with all matters FINANCIAL / ADMINISTRATION.
We also provide a FULL BOOKKEEPING SERVICE to members.