Meet the Members: Volunteer Central

Ciara OCallaghan • March 20, 2022

Volunteer Central started as a charitable trust established in 2005 to develop a volunteer centre in the region. The doors first opened on 24th June 2010, aiming to connect the community through volunteering. Ten years later, VRC took on the new identity of Volunteer Central to consolidate the direction the centre has taken. They are a proud member of Community Networks Aotearoa and we are so happy to have them!

We chatted to Kate Aplin, Volunteer Central Manager, about Volunteer Central's purpose and mahi...

Whatunga Tūao | Volunteer Central is proud to be working in the Horowhenua, Manawatū, Palmerston North and Tararua area supporting individuals to gain skills, confidence, and a sense of wellbeing through being volunteers, and to support organisations to increase capacity and capability through providing opportunities for volunteers, and also through team volunteering.

Alongside working with volunteers and organisations they work closely with the four Iwi that are mana whenua of the areas they cover (Ngāti Raukawa, Rangitāne, Muaūpoko, and Ngāti Kahungunu), and the four Councils in the area. We do this to support and actively be involved in community development strategies that focus on the wellbeing of the community through connections, networks, safety initiatives and environmental initiatives.

An example of this mahi has been working with the DHB, Civil Defence, Councils, MSD, Iwi, and community organisations to develop a safe, accountable and reliable process for delivering essential items to people needing to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19. Whatunga Tūao | Volunteer Central has been actively involved in the initial discussions about the response, has developed the safe and confidential delivery process and templates used by all organisations, has provided support and training to Community Connectors on the process, and provides volunteers to undertake the deliveries. This imitative was undertaken following recognition that the community did not have the capacity to provide such a response at that time, and we have been able to provide the community some time to develop this capacity while maintaining a safe community response.

Whatunga Tūao | Volunteer Central works closely with local businesses and values the support of businesses through sponsorship to be able to undertake their valuable mahi – it is an awesome way to have the community value of understood by the corporate world and give them an opportunity to tautoko this. Volunteer Central is also very fortunate to have close partnerships with the 17 other volunteer centres across the country through Volunteer Central Network Aotearoa which regularly meets (virtually!) to share experiences/initiatives/frustrations/and resources to make the communities across the motu safe and connected.

If you want to know more about Whatunga Tūao | Volunteer Central or their COVID-19 response mahi, you can contact manager@volunteercentral.nz or call 06 354 6027.

You can also visit their website here.

Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Solving Board Problems with Bullet(s) Points...

April 8, 2025

Being part of a community organisation is exciting, rewarding, and sometimes a little chaotic. From passionate debates to trying to make decisions that serve everyone’s needs, it’s no surprise that things can get a bit tangled at times.

Hapori Aotearoa Conference Wrap-Up

By Community Networks • March 10, 2025

Last week Patrick represented CNA at the Hapori Aotearoa – Growing Communities Together in sunny Tauranga presented by Inspiring Communities and the Tauranga City Council. A two-day conference focused on providing practical resources amplifying community development. With each day having multiple concurrent workshops there were difficult (and esciting) choices to be made. The hottest topics were Social Return On Investments / Social Investment, Te Tiriti, and (no surprise) funding within the Sector. There were great speakers and a lot of table korero, spilling of tea, and sharing ideas and resources. Did you know there is a Regional Data Explorer on the Social Investment Agency website ? How might organisations use this to target their mahi and applications? “The Social Investment Agency’s Regional Data Explorer supports access to data for regional and sub-regional decision-making. It brings together 70 datasets or 'indicators' which can be filtered to meet a particular need." Another great workshop (Belinda Gorman ) looked into connecting with businesses to explore various ways of funding. Looking at alignment, how to approach and creating that relationship. One contribution we were able to make was a handy dandy doc on how to use the free version of ChatGPT to create a start – how to create a document that begins your journey on support, sponsorship and funding. Here it is – Using ChatGPT to Get $. And it was a great chance to catch up with Members – SociaLink (also a supporter of the conference); Volunteer Kapiti and Community Networking Trust. It was a time to catch up with friends from other organisations and to make new connections, both strengthening our reach around the Motu. Whilst conferences are expensive, attending can hit many birds with one stone and its important to get out of your own area, headspace to remind yourself that you are not alone in what’s going on; that there are people with ideas around you; and that (while it can be a draining experience) it is a fantastic way to recharge your spirit. We look forward to hosting our Members at our Members’ Only Hui on Friday, 7th November in Te Whanganui-a-Tara /Wgtn for exactly those reasons. Oh, did I mention it’s also our 50th Anniversary celebrations? Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer