Vision: Enrich lives through volunteering
Mission: Connect people and transform communities

Weekend Friendship Support Volunteer - Hamilton

Hamilton
Organisation:
IHC Volunteering Programme - Waikato
Category:
Social Support
Hours:
Both/Flexible

Be a Friend – Make Her Feel Seen, Accepted and Included
This young woman is 18 years old and still at high school. Making friends hasn’t been easy for her, so she has joined the Friendship Programme to be introduced to someone who could become a real friend.

She’s quite independent, but she feels happiest when she has someone to share outings with. She loves getting out and about — things like bowling, mini golf, going for walks, strawberry picking, visiting the zoo or spending time with animals. She also enjoys quieter moments indoors, whether that’s doing a jigsaw puzzle, watching a movie, playing video games or card games, or getting creative with arts and crafts, knitting and crocheting.

She isn’t comfortable in busy, crowded places and feels most at ease in quieter situations with people who are gentle, understanding and sensitive to her needs.

If some of these interests sound like things you’d enjoy too, and you’d like to give this young woman the gift of friendship, we’d really love to hear from you.

Why it matters
Friendship and time are some of the greatest gifts you can give. It doesn’t take much, simply including her in your life and sharing the things you both enjoy will mean the world to her. Just by being a friend, you can bring joy and connection into her life.

What you need to know
You don’t need any special experience for this role. It’s all about getting to know one person and building a genuine connection. We’ll provide full training and ongoing support so that you feel confident and happy in your role as a friend.

Please note: Because this role involves working closely with a young person, a Police Vetting process is required.

Requirements:
  • Applicants must be at least 17 years old
  • Confidence and fluency in speaking English
  • A good listener who can adapt communication style when needed
  • Patient, kind and reliable, with a genuine desire to build a meaningful friendship
  • A full New Zealand driver’s licence, as you’ll need to travel to meet your friend and take part in activities together

A Police background check is required for this role.

Time commitment:

To help this friendship thrive, the following are important:

  • Volunteers should be available at least once every fortnight for an hour or two. Regular contact helps build trust and a consistent connection.
  • A commitment of at least six months is needed to give the friendship time to grow and become meaningful.
  • While schedules can be flexible, consistency matters. Your friend should feel confident knowing when they might see you.
  • This young woman prefers to connect mostly on weekends, as school keeps her busy during the week.

Please note: This role isn’t suitable for people looking for work experience or employment opportunities. We’re seeking volunteers who can commit to an ongoing friendship and prioritise this relationship during the role.

Getting started:
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below. We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.

Ref: 3076

Apply for this role:

Address: *

Demographic information:
Used anonymously for statistics to demonstrate our impact to funders.
Other information (optional):
In applying for this position I confirm that I have read the requirements of the position and believe I have the skills and attributes required to carry out this role safely and effectively.
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