What are you doing on Sunday at 2pm – do you want to listen to some Christmas music?? Then check out Volly Voices Christmas Special where Hosts Graham and Marie share some Christmas tunes.
At Volunteering New Plymouth, we are all about supporting the community. If you know a Group, Club or Organisation that could benefit from any support or advice, we are here to help and if we don’t know we are sure to have contacts that will be able to.
If you are walking through Top Town Cinema space and past Access Radio 104.4FM studio check out the ARTspace and see the tiny teddies & hearts hanging on the wall and the tiny teddies in the wicker chair together with the Hardship to Hope Pepi Pod by the wall with all the items that are gifted to young Mums and their newborns – these are a couple of sewing and knitting / crochet projects that are available for people to do in their spare time at home.- this is called volunteering.
The exhibition at Access Radio ARTspace is there to let people know the amazing work that our project volunteers are doing at home, they include: Tiny teddies, Love Letters, Tiny Hearts, Knitted / crochet singlets, booties, beanies, Bag sewing and knitted winter warmers
Also others that are special and are once every couple of weeks for two hours are gardening with Awanui Angels – this is a beautiful project that started with Gabby’s Starlit HOPE parents speaking to us about the tidiness of the cemetery and we now have Angels involved with Awanui Cemetery and supported by the Parks staff. – we so love this project – if you are interested message us to learn more.
The Pepi Pod has a Holdall, which the pillowcases from Alsco are repurposed and make into a carry all for the items included in the Pepi Pod. We have some already cut and pinned ready for sewing currently. There is also an opportunity to knit or crochet a wool blanket to be included with this.
The tiny teddies can be knitted from any wool and we have patterns to share and these, as you will see in the display, come in all shapes, sizes and colours and are so appreciated by the recipients of the Mum & Baby boxes that are gifted by Gabby’s Starlit HOPE they also go to Heart Kids as well as to ED Department of the hospital.
The tiny hearts are gifted to Heart Kids as well as Gabby’s Starlit HOPE for the Mum & Baby Box too.
Then there are the Love letters these are also gifted to Gabby’s Starlit HOPE for boxes that are gifted to children for their hospital rooms and the same for Heart Kids.
Christmas is a special time of year. For many this is the time of year to look at what we would like to do in the coming year. With that in mind and if you are looking at what you could do that is not going to need a huge commitment, why not look at volunteering.
There are many options that you could consider, and we have a database of opportunities that you could check out at. www.volunteeringnewplymouth.org.nz
As we close for the year we would like to Thank those who have helped us throughout the year; TOI Foundation, Stuff Editor – Matt, NPDC Community and Economic Development Advisors, NPDC Community Development Committee, DIA Community & Volunteer Fund, Primo, Access Radio Taranaki 104.4FM, MAD Media, Starbucks, Marbles, DeliStar, The Wheelhouse, Taranaki Community Law, Lottery Grants Board.
Till next year we hope that you have a happy and safe festive season
Volunteering New Plymouth Wendy, Marie & VNP Board
Website: https://communitycomms.org.nz/
Have you heard of Community Comms Collective?
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about what is involved and / or how you can get involved then contact Wendy (Monday to Thursday) at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 or Email: admin@vnp.nz. to take the next step.
Website: https://www.heartkids.org.nz/branches/taranaki/
Did you know that there are over 250 Heart Kids members in Taranaki?
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about what is involved and / or how you can get involved then contact Wendy (Monday to Thursday) at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 or Email: admin@vnp.nz. to take the next step.
Website: https://wildfortaranaki.nz/
If you are curious to learn more about what is involved and or how you can get involved then contact Wendy (Monday to Thursday) at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 or Email: admin@vnp.nz. to take the next step
Website: https://3stepsforlife.stjohn.org.nz/
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about the 3 Steps for Life programme and how you can join a session being offered near you, or how you could join St John and / or how you could become a trained trainer to deliver the programme then contact Wendy (Monday to Thursday) at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 or Email: admin@vnp.nz.
Website: https://www.pasat.org.nz/
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about PASAT please contact Dianne Darbyshire 022 088 7503 or Email: taranaki@PASAT.org.nz or Wendy (Monday to Thursday) at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 or Email: admin@vnp.nz.
Website: https://gbb.org.nz/baking-it-better/chapters/new-plymouth/
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about Good Bitches Baking and / or you are interested in becoming a volunteer with this great group, please contact Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Email admin@vnp.nz or Ph/Text 022 571 4228 to take the next step.
Website: https://alzheimers.org.nz/taranaki/
September is World Alzheimers Month
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about Alzheimers Taranaki and / or you are interested in becoming a volunteer with this great group, please contact Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986; E: admin@vnp.nz or Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 to take the next step.
Website: https://www.starjam.org/
Who can you contact?
If you curious to learn more about STAR JAM and /or you are interested in becoming a volunteer with this great group, please contact Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986; E: admin@vnp.nz or Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 to take the next step.
Website: https://www.theheadoffice.org.nz/
Who can you contact?
If you curious to learn more about The Head Office and /or you are interested in becoming a volunteer with this great programme, please contact Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth on Ph: 06 758 8986; E: admin@vnp.nz or Ph / Text: 022 571 4228 to take the next step.
Website: https://www.stjohn.org.nz/what-we-do/community-programmes/caring-caller/
Who can you contact?
If you curious to learn more about any of the activities and / or you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Hato Hone St John please contact Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986; E: admin@vnp.nz or Ph / Text: 022 571 4228 to take the next step.
Website: https://thf.org.nz/ways-to-be-involved/hardship-to-hope-fund/
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about any of the activities and / or you are interested in helping in some way please contact Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Email: admin@vnp.nz or Ph/Text 022 571 4228 to take the next step.
Website: http://www.wcnp.org.nz/
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about any of the activities and / or you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Women’s Centre New Plymouth please contact Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, E: admin@vnp.nz or Ph/Text 022 571 4228 to take the next step.
Wbsite: https://waitara.allheart.store/
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about any of the activities and / or you are interested in becoming a volunteer with St Vincent de Paul please contact Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, E: admin@vnp.nz or Ph / Text: 022 571 4228 to take the next step.
Awanui Angels
Volunteers for what, you ask??
We would like to give back to the community by helping keep Awanui Cemetery in tip-top condition. We are looking for some Angels who are interested in looking to help support the Council staff by doing some of the tasks that are not part of their everyday duties.
This project will be very different to the volunteer work done at Te Henui Cemetery as Awanui is a limited-lawn cemetery. We’d like volunteers for year-round weeding, trimming, deadheading, pruning, plant maintenance and if there is a group who would like to become involved, then perhaps mulching, planting & dividing, and transplanting plants.
We will have specific areas that we are working on only - currently the Angels meet once a month on a Wednesday (weather dependent) during Autumn / Winter and in Spring/ Summer twice a month also on a Wednesday. The number of hours per session are between 2 and 4 depending on the numbers and who is available. The current team are hoping to have a few younger people will join them as it can be a little hard on the backs if you are not young. Do you know anyone who would be keen to help on an occasional basis – not on a regular basis – that would be good too – and really helpful.
There will be site safety processes and an induction for each event. We are looking for all of you who are interested in being part of this project and particularly people with horticultural knowledge, it is not vital that you have this knowledge, however.
We have an awesome Project Lead for this project, and she would appreciate another person being with her to be available if she wants to go away from time to time.
This has been a project for almost one year now and the volunteers who are involved would love to have others join them to increase what they are able to achieve. Because this is relatively new, we will work with all those who offer their time and try and make it work for everyone and ensure that we are able to work with NPDC staff who enable this unique project to happen.
For all new volunteers we will have a first meeting onsite with Council staff to inspect the site and the areas we will be working on. No date is confirmed yet as that’s dependent on those of you who put your hand up and what day would best suit. It does need to be during the working week Monday – Friday, however.
Those who are interested in being part of this Awanui Angels Project: it is preferable that you bring your own hand tools – due to Health & Safety there will be no power tools or spraying allowed by volunteers.
If you are interested in looking into this further please give Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth a call on 06 758 8986 or Ph/Text 022 571 4228 or E: admin@vnp.nz so that she can help you get started.
KidSafe Taranaki Trust – Technicians
KidSafe Taranaki is a charitable trust formed in 1994 to reduce unintentional injuries to children/tamariki in Taranaki.
Trust membership currently includes Taranaki District Health Board, ACC, Plunket, Tui Ora, New Plymouth District Council and community volunteers.
KidSafe is also a partner in the New Plymouth injury Safe (NPiS) Trust which is responsible for New Plymouth District’s International Safe Community accreditation programme.
KidSafe uses local child injury data to plan and co-ordinate community projects on priority injury issues
GOAL: Reduce the incidence and severity of unintentional injuries to children/tamariki in Taranaki.
OBJECTIVES:
**To raise community awareness about the incidence, severity, causes, costs and preventative strategies associated with unintentional injuries
**To identify priority areas for the reduction of child unintentional injuries
** To undertake intervention activities to reduce the incidence and severity of unintentional injuries to children
**To liaise with and support other agencies/initiatives with similar objectives both locally and nationally
** To undertake the above objectives in a manner that is appropriate to the cultures in our community.
There are many activities that they facilitate within the Community they include continuing to support and facilitate Hapu Wananga falls prevention korero to whanau who are hapu (with child). Hapū wananga within Taranaki continues to be active and present actively engaging both North and South Taranaki whānau.
Currently we are working to support the recruitment of new technicians to relieve the amazing Gabrielle and her team of volunteers and add to the pool of people free to be able to attend the clinics that are held on a rotation of monthly in each centre. It would be fantastic if we were able to have volunteers who could be available in each of the five centres – so it would be a shift once a month.
So, are you interested in the safety of your children or grandchildren or perhaps your nieces of nephews and or interested in supporting this great and much needed service? Do you have a few hours a week or a month that you could spare to help ensure that children/tamariki who are near and dear to you and riding around in cars are protected?
KidSafe Taranaki provides an amazing service to our community by offering a safety check of children’s car seats. This is a FREE service - NO APPOINTMENTS NEEDED. They are in the following areas:
KidSafe car seat clinics held around the Mounga:
|
1st Thursday of every month |
New Plymouth 9am – 12 pm Bell Block 1.30pm – 3.30pm
|
|
2nd Thursday of every month |
Stratford 10am – 12 pm Hawera 1.30pm – 3.30pm
|
|
3rd Thursday of every month |
Waitara 10am – 12pm
|
So if these voluntary positions sound like something that you would like more information about and if you think you may like to check one or more of these opportunities out then please contact Wendy, Monday to Thursday, at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, M: 022 571 4228 or E: admin@vnp.nz to take that next step, and discuss with her your skills and the potential options, she is keen to hear from you.