2019 Christmas and New Year Holiday Closure
NORTH TARANAKI MIDWEEK VOLUNTEER CALLS:
Citizens Advice Bureau:
The Citizens Advice Bureau is a branch of a national organisation Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand (CABNZ), This organisation is dedicated to providing all members of our New Zealand community with independent help and support on any matter that they may require.
The aims of CABNZ are to:
1) Ensure that individuals do not suffer through ignorance of their rights and responsibilities, or of the services available, or through an inability to express their needs effectively.
2) Exert a responsible influence on the development of social policies and services, both locally and nationally.
To achieve these aims CAB offer accurate, comprehensive and up to date information, advice and advocacy that is free, confidential and impartial.
New Plymouth CAB branch is open from 9.30am – 3.30pm Monday through Friday and is staffed by trained volunteers. There are 10 shifts per week which are from 9.30am – 12.30pm and 12.30pm – 3.30pm and two volunteers (Bureau members) are rostered on each shift. The Bureau offers a free legal service one nigh per week, usually a Monday and usually from 7.15 – 9pm and one Bureau member is rostered to assist the duty solicitor on this night.
To become a Bureau member it does require commitment, there is a requirement to perform a duty once a fortnight, and in general a commitment of approximately 10 – 15 hours per month is needed. This includes assisting with the day to day running of the Bureau and participating on at least one of the teams which could consist of organising information resources, maintaining the information systems and other technology, organising social gatherings, giving talks to other community groups, publicity or learning and development. Monthly learning and development sessions are held every third Wednesday 12.30pm – 2pm and a volunteer must attend 7 out of 10 per year. There is flexibility in all this and you are able to select your own shifts to fit with your lifestyle. So if you think, I would like to do that but I am wanting to travel for a few weeks or months and / or want to spend time with family (and don’t want to let people down or have to get someone to take my roster ) this could be the perfect role for you as there is the ability to be rostered out of those times .
There is a process of Police check and signing a declaration of confidentiality to be completed and once accepted there is an induction period and the observation sessions then after successfully completing these key steps there is a probation period and finally Accreditation and Volunteer Certificate is awarded.
The friendly people at the Bureau are extending an invitation to prospective volunteers to go along and spend some time in the office to see how it all works, so if you would like to visit and find out more about the role CAB and the Bureau members play in our community then please contact Wendy or Marie at Volunteering New Plymouth on (06) 758 8986, email: coordinator@volunteeringnewplymouth.nz or phone or text 027 541 0577 so that we can arrange for your visit.
Mobility Scooters in the Park and Walkway – Scooter Army
Over the last few months there have been some exciting things happening in our New Plymouth District and one of them was that New Plymouth District Council purchased five mobility scooters, in February, to be used by locals and visitors, who would not otherwise be able to enjoy and explore our wonderful Pukekura Park and Our Fantastic Coastal Walkway; because of limited mobility. These mobility scooters are available for people with a disability and / or the aged to use.
Where do volunteers come into the picture you ask?
Taranaki Disability Information Centre is a Charitable Trust and they have worked tirelessly with our Council to bring this about. To help this expand there is a great need for more volunteers to help.
The role of a volunteer is to meet the people, who have prebooked to use the mobility scooters, sight their photo ID, brief them on how to use the scooter, explain conditions of using these scooters also give a map of highlights to see and where the scooter is allowed and send them on their way to enjoy either the park or the walkway. We need people to also meet the returning people and scooters.
There is a booking system which the Coordinator will manage. So we are looking to gather some volunteers to expand the service and to help increase the awareness of this great project - so if you have always wanted to help out in our community but were afraid to ask - now is the time to ask about our Scooter in the Park and on the Walkway
Now that Spring is upon us the scooters are available 7 days per week / 52 weeks of the year - weather permitting within daylight hours then during the Festival of Lights starting December 14th, 2019 until February 1st, 2020 the scooters will be available for loan at night also and the Scooters in the Park volunteers will work closely with Friends of the Park and the Festival of Lights volunteers.
We are looking for people to put their names forward to be rostered on to help because the more the merrier and the less pressure on the few to do more. You don’t need to commit to this long term or for a heap of hours – however many hours and how often that will work for you is what we are looking for.
If you would like to know more and or put your name forward for one of two information sessions please contact Wendy or Marie at Volunteering New Plymouth on (06) 7588-986, email: coordinator@volunteeringnewplymouth.nz or phone or text 027 541 0577 so that they can put you on the list.
Boomerang Bags started in Australia but has since spread worldwide. The original idea was to borrow, and return the hand-made bags, instead of using single-use plastic bags, however now we want people just to grab it, and reuse it rather than return. You can find the bags at some local 4 Square stores and (places where you grab up to 10 items like Bin Inn in Waitara) as supplies become available These bags are FREE and there are probably no two the same and are very useful for many things not just our shopping.
Lauree Jones Regional Coordinator of Taranaki Enviroschools said "This Taranaki Enviroschools' initiative is to try to support the elimination of single use plastic bags and so this is just one way of doing that,"
Marie of Volunteering New Plymouth has been working with Lauree since January 2018 and there have been many sew a thons since then, the latest being yesterday - which was a great day.
Currently Volunteering New Plymouth is looking for people to become part of a team of home sewers. As Lauree says "You just need a sewing machine or an overlocker and an iron, and time, enthusiasm and a smiling face," For those willing to help, we will hold a session to demonstrate how they are made from the pattern and from there the creativity begins.
"People can do it as a one off or they can do it over a long period of time,".
We currently are in need of fabric to maintain this great activity – so if you have a stash of fabric that you have had for years and you are not likely to now get to use or it can be old sheets, pillowcases, table cloths, table napkins, jeans, trousers, skirts, also old curtains or nets that are torn .Really any fabric / material that is clean and could be used to make bags we are interested in – we want to reduce that fabric landfill problem.
If you're interested in sewing, or donating materials such as fabric, sewing cotton, machine needles or even a sewing machine that is sitting around unused in good working order and or if you think you would like to help in some other ways perhaps or just want to know more, please contact Wendy or Marie at Volunteering New Plymouth on (06) 7588-986, email: coordinator@volunteeringnewplymouth.nz or phone or text 027 541 0577
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF TARANAKI MENTORS:
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a successful international mentoring organization. BBBS makes a huge impact in the lives of the young people, aged 6 to 18, who are on the programme.
In Taranaki there are matches in Opunake, Hawera, New Plymouth, Waitara and everywhere in between. Big Brothers Big Sisters have been operating in New Plymouth for 12 years and have made over 300 matches.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is operated by a Trust in partnership with New Plymouth Police and Tamarind Taranaki Ltd.
Behind the scenes great care is taken by Mentoring Coordinators in matching each volunteer mentor and young person to ensure a consistent one-to-one relationship is formed. These friendships support the young person to develop their confidence and resilience as well as giving them opportunities to try new and exciting things.
One Hour. Once a Week. One Life.
From volunteer mentors Big Brothers Big Sisters ask for a commitment of a minimum of one year to their young person, giving them a valuable investment in their lives for a length of time that research has shown improves confidence and resilience. During their time together mentors will endeavor to see their young person each week for around an hour to do fun activities and build a friendship.
We do ask that mentors also hold a full drivers licence in order to pick up and drop off their young person.
If interested please contact Marie or Wendy at Volunteering New Plymouth on (06)758-8986 or 027 541 0577 or email them at coordinator@volunteeringnewplymouth.nz to take the next step and find out more.
Thank you for supporting those who make such a positive contribution to our local community.