How You Can Help

          Refugee Services
          National Office
          PO Box 6828 Marion Square 
          Wellington 6141 

We couldn't do our work without our amazing volunteer support workers! By becoming a volunteer support worker, you can support former refugees to start again. You can help them understand their new country, with it's new systems, new culture, new language. Resettlement is an incredibly challenging process, and our volunteers help former refugees to meet and overcome those challenges.

If you live in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Porirua, Hutt Valley, Christchurch or Nelson contact your local office to find out more information about the free volunteer training programme - you will make a difference assisting a former refugee resettle in New Zealand and it might just change your life too!

"If you have some spare time on your hands, this type of volunteer work is SO rewarding...I certainly feel that I get back so much more than I put in. You become so much a part of the family during your placement that in many cases, you become friends for life!"- Heather, Nelson volunteer

You can help turn a house into a home for newly arrived refugees! Imagine you came to a new country with nothing more than a suitcase. How would you create a home for you and your family?

Our offices are often in need of good quality household items (beds, other furniture, whiteware, kitchen equipment, bedding, computers, etc) to set up homes for newly arrived refugees. If you have something you wouldlike to donate, please contact the Refugee Services office nearest you.

"When I got to New Zealand, I felt so lost; everything I ever knew, it was gone. But when I walked into my new home that had been set up by total strangers, I thought, 'I can do this. I can start again here.'" - Apolonia Abolo Pius, former refugee from Sudan who now works for Refugee Services helping newly arrived refugees resettle in New Zealand.

Ideas for charitable trusts and foundations

You can support our work by making a grant to one of our projects or to our work generally. Is there a particular part of what we do that inspires you? Our volunteer programme? Our refugee background caseworkers? Keeping new families warm in the winter? We would be more than happy to work with you on finding the perfect fit between your mission and our work.

Please contact Marketing Advisor Teresa Bass at teresa.bass@refugeeservices.org.nz or call 04 805 0343 to find out more!

Ideas for corporations and other larger companies

• Encourage payroll giving amongst your staff.
• Invite a Refugee Services speaker to share what we do with your employees.
  
• Work with our Pathways to Employment programme to give a work placement to a qualified former refugee.
• Offer gifts-in-kind to help refugee families set up home. Maybe you're upgrading the computers at your office or maybe you own a hotel and you're upgrading your beds. Let us know!
• Make a tax-deductible donation towards our work.
• Sponsor one of our events, projects or public awareness campaigns.

We are more than happy to work with you on developing a partnership that's a perfect fit. We are also keen to recognise the work of our partners on our website, in our publications and through our social media networks. If you'd like to make a contribution or arrange another way of showing support, we would love to work with you on how best to recognise your organisation.

Ideas for faith groups and churches

• Organise a bake sale or other fundraising event to benefit Refugee Services.
• Encourage members of your group or congregation to learn more about becoming a volunteer support worker.
• Bring together groups of volunteers to help at a Refugee Services event.
• Educate your members about what it means to be a refugee by inviting a Refugee Services speaker to talk with your group.
• Hold a collection (furniture, in-kind goods, financial contributions, etc.) in aid of our work.
• Get your youth programmes involved with supporting former refugees.
• Invite cultural performers from refugee background communities to perform at events.
  
• Pray for the plight of refugees and those starting all over again.

Got other ideas you'd like to explore? We'd love to show our support! Just contact Teresa Bass at teresa.bass@refugeeservices.org.nz or phone 04 805 0343.

Ideas for schools and youth groups

• Discuss refugee issues in the classroom.
• Invite a former refugee or Refugee Services speaker to share information about refugees in New Zealand and the refugee journey with your students.
• Gather a group of students to volunteer at a Refugee Services event.
• Encourage your students to learn more about the countries that refugees come from.
• Hold an event such as a bake sale or 'mufti day' to raise money for our work. You could even let the students organise it!

Ideas for service groups

• Inform your members about our work by inviting a speaker from Refugee Services to attend one of your meetings.
• If you are a group of crafters or have special skills, consider doing a project for Refugee Services or donating your skills.
• Encourage your group members to learn more about our volunteer programme.
• Hold a furniture drive or fundraising collection.
• Think about a particular aspect of our work that relates to the mission of your organisation and decide how you might like to support it. We'd be more than happy to work with you to find the perfect fit!
• Hold a function such as a coffee morning in aid of refugees supported by the agency.