IHC Friendship Programme

Do you know someone with an intellectual disability who would like to meet a new friend?

Get in touch with us – please contact your local volunteer coordinator here

IHC’s volunteer friendship programme is available in a number of regions throughout the country, and there’s an i-Volunteer online programme for people living in other parts of New Zealand.

One-to-one friendship

IHC’s volunteer friendship programme matches people with shared interests to spend time together. The relationship is one-to-one. This means people spend time with only one person, so that they get to know each other and form a good connection.

The pair can choose how they spend their time together. It could be getting out for a walk, attending local sporting and community events, learning something new, going to a café for a coffee and a chat or seeing the latest movie - the options are endless. Each person pays their own way, so activities are agreed upon in advance, taking both of their budgets into consideration.

i-Volunteer

The i-Volunteer programme is about connecting online or by phone, to have fun and build a friendship. It is also available for family carers, to link with another carer in a volunteer friendship.

Skill-based learning

IHC's skill-based learning programme supports people with an intellectual disability to learn new skills and achieve short-term goals, for example, cooking, budgeting, gardening and sewing.

They will work one-to-one with a volunteer to develop a specific skill. These are shorter focused projects, and the time commitment will be set to fit the project.

Our volunteers

Our volunteers are diverse in age, background, interests, and skills, which makes it easier to form a good match. Volunteers are fully vetted and well trained, and each friendship is supported by a volunteer coordinator.

These programmes are only available to people with an intellectual disability who are age 17 and over.

A volunteer and his friend enjoying the outdoors together

Frequently asked questions

How do I refer someone with an intellectual disability?

It is best to speak to a volunteer coordinator first, to check if the programme is suitable for the person you would like to refer. A volunteer request form will be sent out, to be completed by you and the person wanting a volunteer friend. Once the volunteer coordinator has received the completed form, they will contact you to further discuss the request and to schedule a time to meet with you and the person you have referred.

How are volunteers selected?

We choose volunteers who share IHC’s philosophy and values. They are carefully selected through an application process, which involves an interview, referee checks and police vetting. Volunteers are then police vetted every three years, as per Whaikaha and IHC requirements.

What training will the volunteer be given?

The volunteer will receive orientation before they meet their friend and will learn about intellectual disability alongside the various resources that are available through IHC. They will also be provided with relevant information specific to the person that they are matched with.

How do they choose what to do together?

The volunteer and the person with intellectual disability choose how to spend their time together. The volunteer coordinator will work with them both, to discuss their shared interests. For our friendship programme, they might like to walk on the beach, go to the movies, play a game together online, catch up over a coffee, or attend a concert. Skill-based volunteering will be structured to achieve a specific skill or goal.

What is the difference between having a support person and a volunteer?

A volunteer chooses to spend their time as a friend, whereas a support person is a paid staff member.

What about health and safety?

Volunteers receive health and safety training during the orientation they attend. They are also provided with information to ensure that all health and safety considerations are met, to keep everyone safe.

What if the match doesn’t work out?

The volunteer coordinator will aim to make a good match based on shared interests and will keep in contact regularly to ensure things are going well. However, occasionally matches just don’t work, or circumstances change. If that happens, the volunteer coordinator will have a discussion with the referrer and the person with intellectual disability, to see if a new match would be appropriate.

If you or someone you support would be like a friendship or skill-based learning volunteer, please contact your local volunteer coordinator.