Most volunteers in New Zealand are young, from overseas and female. John Pratt, however, is just the opposite.

The regional manager of Volunteering Auckland, Cheryll Martin, says working on voluntary basis has always been dominated by young female immigrants attending university.

“Every second person who volunteers is a student and 90 per cent of those who volunteer are migrants, most of whom are Chinese,” says Ms Martin.

But Kiwi-born Mr Pratt started volunteering in his mid-40s and had never thought of volunteering while at university. He joined the sector 15 months ago.

Ms Martin, who has been in the industry for 13 years, says almost half of those who enquire about volunteering are not ready to start working immediately being migrants.

“Their English might not be good enough or they need more training, so unfortunately we have to turn them down.”

Students and youths lead the volunteering sector, having flexible schedules and more free time.

“Third of all registered volunteer workers are between 20 to 29 years old,” says Ms Martin.

Mr Pratt, 47, who spends 70 to 75 hours a week, working as a general manager of two larger corporate organisations, says finding the time to volunteer is a “choice” and not simply about the time availability. He always manages to find the time for to help those in need.

“Volunteering is about investing your life in helping people you often don’t even know. It’s a powerful thing.”

Mr Pratt is helping at the St Heliers Presbyterian Church and Community Centre, mostly with “the technical side of things”.

“I am looking after their website and often doing video-filming for the church and community centre.”

Mr Pratt does not have a set volunteering schedule and considers himself to be a volunteer “on call”.

“They call me up and ask me to help out with all sorts of projects.”

Mr Pratt says volunteering is very satisfying and is aiming at investing every spare minute he has, even on weekends, in “helping those in need”.

“You can sit around and do nothing, or make a difference in somebody’s life.”

Mr Pratt is not planning to slow down any time soon.

“I am planning to keep going for as long as I can and keep making a difference in people’s lives.”

Ms Martin says corporate and group volunteering is a “growing phenomenon” so there seems to be a possibility for more people like Mr Pratt to join the unpaid sector.

“Last year we had around 400 people volunteering from the corporate sector this year, in the first quarter, we already have 200 people registered.”

For more information go to www.VolunteerNow.org.nz or call o8oo VOLCNTR (o8oo 865 268).