Who Could You Help Today With Your Skills?

Written by Stacey Shortall

New Zealanders are proud of our tradition of helping out. Whether it’s on the marae, at the local sports club, or during a community clean-up, volunteering has always been part of who we are.

But, today, our community organisations are under greater pressure than ever before.

• Over 50% of all New Zealanders live in households struggling to afford everyday items.

• 1 in 5 children live in households experiencing material hardship.

• Over half a million New Zealanders are accessing food banks each month.

• Nearly 50% of all charities report an increase in people needing their services, while many face shrinking budgets.

• Almost 90% of community organisations do not have any paid employees and rely solely on volunteers.

The result? Community organisations are expected to deliver more with less - more food parcels, more warm clothing, more housing help, more mental health support - all while running on volunteers.

Volunteering Is Changing

Traditional volunteering is no longer enough. People are busier, more mobile, and more likely to have professional skills than spare afternoons. The kind of help our communities need - and the way we give it - must evolve.

That’s where HelpTank comes in.

Volunteering for the 21st Century

HelpTank is New Zealand’s first digital platform dedicated to skilled volunteering. Instead of just asking people to fundraise or pack boxes, it matches community organisations with professionals who can donate their expertise - for example in marketing, accounting, law, design, IT or communications.

The impact is real:

• 11,000 hours of skilled work valued at around $3.5 million have already been donated.

• A small NGO got help with a professional website built that it could never have afforded.

• A developing charity had its fundraising campaign refreshed by a specialist who volunteered.

• A refugee organisation received advice from experts facilitators about running sessions.

This is not charity as usual. This is targeted, high-value support that many community organisations could never otherwise access.

Why It Matters

Some think change only happens in Parliament or corporate boardrooms. But the truth is it also happens when:

• A graphic designer helps an NGO tell its story.

• A marketing expert helps a charity develop new fundraising avenues.

• A communications expert helps a charity reach more families.

HelpTank turns professional skills into social impact. It recognises that the greatest asset many of us have to give is not just time, but expertise. And it ensures that community organisations - often closest to the toughest challenges - get the professional support they need to survive and thrive.

A Call to Action

New Zealand’s community sector is at a crossroads. Needs are rising. Funding is stretched. The demands on volunteer time are changing. If we don’t evolve, we risk leaving our most vulnerable behind.

HelpTank offers a solution. A way for every one of us to step in, not just with our hands, but with our heads. So my question is simple: Who could you help today with your skills?