The Big Shout Out 2026: Celebrating the Volunteers Who Help Strengthen Our Communities

Image description: The Big Shout Out logo against a bright yellow background.

June is here, and at Blind Low Vision NZ, we are proud to once again celebrate The Big Shout-Out, a month-long opportunity to recognise the extraordinary contribution volunteers make across Aotearoa New Zealand.

This year’s campaign carries even greater significance as 2026 marks the International Year of Volunteers 2026 (IVY 2026), a global recognition of the role volunteers play in building stronger, more connected, and more inclusive communities.

What is The Big Shout-Out?

The Big Shout-Out is our chance to pause and say thank you to the people who generously give their time, energy, experience, and care to support others.

At Blind Low Vision NZ, volunteers are part of the heart of our organisation. Every day, they help support connection,inclusion, independence, and belonging for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision.

Some volunteers are supporting clients directly, helping behind the scenes, leading community groups, supporting guide dogs, banking funds from collection boxes, advocating, and showing up with kindness and commitment.

No matter the role, every contribution matters.

Celebrating Volunteering in Aotearoa and Around the World

Volunteering continues to be one of the most powerful ways people strengthen their communities and support one another.

Across New Zealand, more than half of the population volunteer in some form, while globally more than one billion volunteers contribute their time and skills to causes they care about.

At Blind Low Vision NZ, we see that impact every single day.

National Volunteer Week 2026

The Big Shout-Out also runs alongside National Volunteer Week 2026, taking place from 14–20 June.

This year’s National Volunteer Week theme, Tōu tau ki te tūao – Your Year to Volunteer, invites everyone to recognise the contribution of those who freely give their time, and consider how they might get involved too.

Throughout June, we will be celebrating our volunteer community through:

• Volunteer stories shared on our website and social media
• Community recognition events and local celebrations
• Features in newspapers across the motu
• Messages of thanks and recognition across our organisation

Thank You to Our Volunteer Community

To every volunteer who gives their time to Blind Low Vision NZ, thank you.