Our volunteers are our lifeblood – without them we couldn’t do what we do.
We are incredibly grateful to all of the volunteers who assist us across the variety of services we offer and we recognise the positive impact they have on the older people we work with.
We would love to hear from anyone interested in volunteering with Age Concern Wairarapa and can offer a number of different roles, including:
- Buddy Up! Champion
- Volunteer Visitor
- “Steady as You Go” Facilitators
- Coffee morning helpers
Our volunteers cover the whole of the Wairarapa including Eketahuna, Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, Featherston and Martinborough, as well as all the areas in-between.
Training and ongoing support is provided for each of these volunteer roles. Please get in touch if you would like any more information or to register your interest in volunteering.
Description: Buddy Up! champions assist older people across Wairarapa develop small communities of belonging. Champions work with Age Concern Wairarapa to establish small group activities for people with a shared interest or hobby. Champions connect people – they may provide an opportunity for people to get together to talk and relax; they may teach a skill or provide support for people to learn from one another.
Requirements: A passion for people, a love of belonging to a group. Champions may have a particular area of skill (anything from Art to Zumba), and will definitely have curiosity about the world around then, a ‘give anything a go’ attitude and organisational skills.
Time commitment: Groups meet for 60 – 90 minutes once a week. Some time (approx. 30 minutes per week) needed for organisational tasks
Description: Age Concern require volunteer visitors to visit older people in their homes or at aged care facilities. The visits are intended to provide company and friendship to an older person and help reduce loneliness and social isolation
Requirements: Warm, friendly and enjoy chatting with an older person. Training and ongoing support is provided. Reference checks and a New Zealand Police background check is required for this role
Time commitment: On average, one hour per week for visiting and two minutes per week to record this visit. Two hours approximately for initial training and orientation
Description: “Steady As You Go” is an exercise class for older people with a focus on fall prevention and balance. It is recognised as making a noticeable improvement to the physical and social wellbeing of participants. Full training is given to facilitators.
Requirements: Keen interest in working with older people, being confident holding exercise class to a group and a driving licence (to be able to get to venues).
Time commitment: “Steady As you Go” classes run for approximately 45 minutes. There is a small amount of paperwork/reporting/admin/ to be completed each week and submitted on a monthly basis.
Description: Coffee mornings are intended to provide an opportunity for older people to come together in a safe and welcoming space where they can enjoy the company of others and share in a morning tea (provided). Volunteers are needed to support the Age Concern facilitator set up the venue, serve morning tea, receive payments and pack down at the end of the session.
Requirements: Friendly nature, comfortable talking to people and able to move around the room without assistance. There is potential for the volunteer to take over hosting the event including booking and collecting the morning tea and arranging speakers for the individual sessions.
Time commitment: Availability on Tue/ Wed mornings for approximately 2- 3 hours
Hei pikinga waiora | Reconnect with the people and places that lift you up
