PARS Connect - Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay

Be a steady presence in someone’s journey of reconnection.

We’re looking for compassionate, community-minded volunteers to join our PARS Connect programme—offering support, connection, and human kindness to people who are isolated, either in the community or in prison.

Volunteers in this programme play a quiet but powerful role. Some visit people in the community who are working to reintegrate after prison—offering encouragement, practical support, and helping them rebuild confidence and connections. Others visit people inside prison who are isolated and not receiving visitors—providing simple human contact that can mean the world to someone feeling forgotten.

What’s involved:

• One-on-one visits, either in the community or inside prison (depending on your preference).

• Listening, talking, walking alongside—being a non-judgemental support.

• Offering encouragement and helping people feel seen, heard, and valued.

• Supporting positive steps toward reconnection with whānau, culture, and community.

We’re looking for people who:

• Are kind, grounded, and respectful of different life journeys.

• Can offer a calm and consistent presence.

• Are reliable and able to maintain good boundaries.

• Can commit to regular visits (fortnightly or monthly, depending on the role).

Full training and ongoing support is provided. Volunteers are carefully matched and well-supported throughout their time with us.

Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness are the ones that change lives