Get Involved - Volunteering in Oxford

June 18th -24th is National Volunteer Week, and the theme this year is ‘Time to Shine – He wā pīataata.’ It is a time to thank all the volunteers that make our community a better place, and to showcase some of the ways that you can get involved.

Volunteering is more than just helping others, although this is certainly a huge part of it. There are a large number of services, events and community groups that are run entirely by volunteers, which benefits everyone living in the community. As well as helping others, the benefits to individuals who volunteer are extensive, including helping them to feel connected in their community, and sharing a purpose with others. In a rural community, it is easy to feel a sense of isolation, but Oxford has a lot of options to get involved. There is absolutely something for everyone!

U-Drive is a mentored driving programme to help youth move from their Learner’s Licence to their Restricted. Mentors are trained to help the young people practise their driving weekly, to gain the skills needed.

Trish has been involved in the U-Drive programme for about 3 years. Her role entails weekly driving, first in Oxford, then Rangiora for about 10 -12 weeks, teaching everything from proper mirror use, how to negotiate roundabouts, traffic lights, parallel parking, turning correctly, speed control, proper hand use on steering wheel & generally how to be a confident driver in all conditions. Trish says “I just love it, taking people from nervous & over cautious drivers to be confident in all aspects of driving. They start off making mistakes, driving very slowly, no idea how to parallel park to being very confident in every aspect of driving. The grin of success when they get their restricted licence is fabulous.”

U-Drive is run by Oxford Community Trust - 03 312 3006

Located at 72 Main Street, Oxford Gallery is ‘A place to create, learn, explore, demonstrate and display visual arts.’

Judith has been volunteering at the Oxford Gallery for about three years, and does at least two duties a month, but often more if they are short. A shift at the Gallery for her involved being a friendly face when people come in to visit, being able to chat about the current exhibition, and also art work available to purchase, and also having some knowledge of the Oxford township, and being able to recommend places to visit. Volunteers get to work alongside others to learn the ropes, and full training is provided. Judith says “I enjoy being able to give something back to the community, being involved in an important part of the community, plus the camaraderie of the other volunteers.” www.oxfordgallery.org.nz 03 312 1639