Strong Voices

The United Nations has declared 2026 as “The Year of the Volunteer”. For IHC, this is a timely reminder that volunteering is part of our identity. IHC was started by volunteers 77 years ago and it remains at the heart of what we do.

Over the decades, people have shown up for our organisation in many ways: building friendships, sharing skills, supporting events, advocating, mentoring, raising money, running op shops, providing office and administration support, being present – face to face and online – and many more. Each role looks different, but every contribution matters as it all comes back to the people we support and the connections we build.

I have the privilege of leading IHC’s Volunteer Programme across Aotearoa. I’ve been with IHC for four years, beginning as a Volunteer Coordinator before moving into this role just over a year ago. The work we do includes friendships, skill-based and group volunteering opportunities and, more recently, creating new pathways so more people volunteer. One of the most significant shifts has been seeing more people with intellectual disabilities stepping into the volunteering space themselves – contributing, leading and helping to shape what community looks like. Read about Hamish’s journey here.

What drives this work is understanding the ‘why’. People don’t volunteer just to fill time. They do it because they want to belong, to contribute and to make a difference in ways that feel real. The Volunteering team’s role is to honour and support that kaupapa by building a programme that creates a place for meaningful relationships to grow.

Volunteering is not always easy. Life is busy and time is precious, and volunteering is literally giving your time. But the impact is lasting, and in some ways is a paradox, often in ways you don’t immediately see: many of the volunteers I have the privilege of working with talk about how much they gain through giving away.

People like Sara, whose warmth and consistency foster genuine connection, and Josie, whose quiet reliability and leadership create stability for others, remind me daily of the strengths volunteers bring. You can read more about their contributions in this issue.

Volunteering with IHC isn’t about big gestures. It’s about respect, consistency and choosing to stand alongside one another. That’s what has carried IHC for 77 years – and it’s what will carry us forward.

Clare Nash is National Manager, IHC Volunteering and Community Engagement

‍

Interested in volunteering?

Learn more here