At Volunteering Canterbury, our vision is to see people and communities connecting through volunteering.
We help volunteers to find opportunities, support community groups to engage with volunteers, offer professional development and peer support for Volunteer Leaders, organise group volunteering for schools, businesses and other organisations, and run Tautoko Network, our unique not-for-profit support group.
Guided by our values of Integrity, Respect, Compassion and Inclusiveness, with a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we enable meaningful volunteer opportunities that build connections and make mahi have meaning.
Volunteering Canterbury celebrates 37 years.
To enable meaningful volunteer opportunities that build connections and make mahi have meaning.
Volunteering Canterbury was founded in September 1988 by Lady Judith Hay, Mayoress of Christchurch. While on a sister city visit to Adelaide, Lady Hay discovered the local Volunteer Centre and returned home inspired, with a vision to create a similar community hub for her hometown. What began as a volunteer-run service quickly became a cornerstone for connecting people with local causes in need of support.
In the early 1990s, Volunteering Canterbury became part of Christchurch Community House, employing a paid coordinator and evolving to support new areas of volunteering, including Youth Volunteering and Employee Volunteering. During this period, the organisation also established its annual Volunteer Recognition Awards and forged collaborative partnerships with Te Rūnanga ki Ōtautahi o Ngāi Tahu and the University of Canterbury.
The organisation expanded further in 2007, opening a South Canterbury branch, which became an independent volunteer centre six months later. In the wake of the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, Volunteering Canterbury played a vital role in coordinating volunteers under extraordinary circumstances, despite losing its office and navigating multiple relocations.
Today, Volunteering Canterbury sits at the heart of the local community, supporting volunteering efforts across education, health, arts, social services, conservation, disability support, and more. Committed to seeing people and communities connecting through volunteering, its services now include volunteer referrals, peer support for volunteer leaders, professional development and training, volunteering expos, and consultancy support for local community organisations.
The Volunteering Canterbury Team
Volunteering Canterbury has a full and part-time staff and a board.
View our Annual Reports and Financial Statements
