Volunteer hours triple for Youthline Southland
“I want to be in every school in Southland, I want us to be available everywhere so that Youthline is thought of about as a support network in all of Southland, all of those little areas."
Shaz Reece is a former journalist who now works in the philanthropic sector.
The number of hours spent supporting young people through Youthline Southland has tripled with the help of a newly funded volunteer role.
An average of 66 hours per month were spent answering the helpline in Murihiku Southland over the past five months, increasing from around 21 hours a month last year.
Youthline Southland community activation manager Krista Farley and volunteer/youth development coordinator Cheryl Calder say working together to create a “family environment” at the regional helpline has contributed to the increase in volunteer hours.
“We’re creating a really good culture here. It’s a pretty heavy space, so I try to bring people together and buddy people up, making sure no one is working in this space alone. I think that’s created a safer space for people to feel good. It’s really feeling like a family,” Calder said.
The volunteer/youth development coordinator role, funded by telco One NZ’s charitable arm - Te Rourou One Aotearoa Foundation - has helped Youthline Southland to “rebuild” itself in the region.
It has created a more supported volunteer base, which meant the organisation could next look at moving into the youth development space, Farley said.
“Cheryl being able to really zone in on those volunteers and the support they need has built our volunteer base up so much better. We’re making trainings more flexible, helping people to better fit volunteering into their lives. We want to make volunteering something that people feel inspired to be a part of,” she said.
“We’re in such a good space, and it’s given me more scope to be able to look at our future, where we’re going, and to start moving forward.”
The pair have big plans for the future of Youthline Southland and are in the first steps of making them a reality, Calder says.
“I want to be in every school in Southland, I want us to be available everywhere so that Youthline is thought of about as a support network in all of Southland, all of those little areas.
“We have a really big dream and we’ve just got to get out there and do it.”
For more information about how to volunteer for Youthline Southland visit www.youthline.co.nz/volunteer-southland
To get in touch with Youthline’s free, confidential, 24/7 service:
Call - 0800 37 66 33
Text - 234
Email - talk@youthline.co.nz