IHC Volunteering Programme - Waikato
The IHC volunteer programme is about one-to-one friendship in the community. This is what makes being a volunteer for IHC so unique.
Spend time doing what you want to do, when you want to do it, with a person with an intellectual disability.
You don't need to do anything different. Just keep doing what you usually do and include someone with similar interests, for example you like to walk your dog? Then take your new friend. You enjoy going to cafes for a coffee? You can take your friend as well.
This is a great way to give something back to the community without you making any changes to your life.
You and the person with the intellectual disability choose how you spend your time. It is not time specific. There is choice. There is flexibility. The emphasis is on fun together.
The relationship is one-to-one. This means that you spend time with only one person, so you both to get to know each other in order to develop a friendship. You must be at least 17 years old to apply.
Go out and have fun, in just the same way as everyone else does.
Why one-to-one?
Because many people with an intellectual disability tell us that most people in their lives are paid staff and family. By getting involved in the IHC one-to-one programme you can make a change in one person's life just by being a friend! Simple!
A 30 year old man with autism is looking for a friend close to his own age to share interests and activities. Volunteers need to have great communication skills, have their own transport, and be able to commit for at least one year.
An 18-year-old woman with autism is looking for a friend her own age to share activities with in the weekends. Volunteers need a full NZ driver’s license and car, confidence in English, and a minimum six-month commitment.
Enjoy simple outings and good company? A friendly 19-year-old woman with autism is looking for a friend, close to her own age to spend time with doing fun things. Just an hour or two every fortnight — a small time to add a little extra to both your lives.
Do you enjoy getting out and about, watching sport, have an interest in fishing, planes, vehicles or trains?
