Volunteer South is promoting National Volunteer Week (Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu) which kicks off tomorrow (Sunday June 19) by encouraging locals to give volunteering a go.

More than one million of New Zealand’s five-million-or-so residents volunteer for an organisation and many more support their community in informal ways. 

Locally, there are a range of organisations offering volunteering opportunities and their volunteers come from all walks of life, Volunteer South representative Gillian White said.

“Last year this included 22 different nationalities, with the 20-29 age bracket being the most prevalent and full time employed being the most active,” she said. 

“We are committed to enabling everyone to volunteer, regardless of their background, ability or circumstance. Everyone has something to offer somewhere.”

The Volunteer South’s Central Lakes team supports volunteers in Cromwell, Alexandra, Queenstown, and the Upper Clutha.

Local volunteers in Central they support include Kylie Murdoch, who puts her skills to use at the Central Motor Speedway and Hannah Lind, who supports new mothers with Mums4Mums.

Rachel Jones, who has been doing all to prepare for the re-launch of Central Cinemas. Your invitation to The new look movie experience.

“Volunteers in the region have a huge range of roles to choose from - we are the connectors,

the line that joins the dots between organisations and volunteers,” Gillian said.

Volunteer South is always available to meet with potential volunteers and help them identify volunteering opportunities that work for them.

Gillian said there is a lot to be gained by volunteering. 

“Volunteers contribute an enormous amount of time and energy to organisations in our communities, bringing fresh ideas, skills and motivation to those around them,” she said. 

“It’s a great way for people to participate in their community in a meaningful way with a whole host of benefits to both the volunteers and the wider society".

Find out more about Volunteer South or get in touch by clicking here: Volunteer South.