We are on the look-out for expressions of interest from people who would like to volunteer to help at the Soul Lounge at Festival One in January 2026.
If you are curious to learn more, send Jacqui Sua an email at soullounge@festival.one or call Elevate Christian Disability Trust on 09 636 4763 to let her know you’re interested. Jacqui will see where we may be able to fit your strengths and gifts.
One volunteer, Stephen, helped to volunteer in January 2025. This is his story of volunteering with Elevate:
Stephen (also known as Steve) was encouraged by a staff member of Elevate, Kathie, that he’d be a fabulous volunteer at one of Elevate’s National Camps. Steve found his first camp pretty full-on, learned lots, and has fond memories of being deeply encouraged by one Farmer who preached a great message during the camp. He remembers leaving camp with a full heart and then kept going back each year to help out!
He remembers Di Willis helping to teach him about different disabilities through acting/theatre at the Elevate centre in Auckland. He recalls the impact Di’s training had on him, his understanding of disability, and feels it was an “eye-opener” that allowed him to gain confidence in his abilities to support other camp-goers with disabilities.
He attributes the hand of God to increasing him in both his practical skills to support people with disabilities and in his level of compassion towards people with disabilities. He felt God had used people like Di to ready him for his role in serving at National Camp. Since his first camp volunteering as a buddy for an attendee, he has continued serving at many more camps as a van driver. He has helped transport people to and from camp, year in and year out. He speaks fondly of his chats in the van with people and really feels his volunteering roles at National Camps has been a place he’s been able to outwork the kingdom of God.
Stephen’s van driving skills have continued to be in hot-demand as a volunteer for the Soul Lounge, a space specifically for people with disabilities to rest and refresh amidst the busy Festival One each January at Hartford Farm, in the Waikato, New Zealand.
Steve D chatting with Alan P in the Soul Lounge marquee in January 2025.
Stephen serves as a volunteer in the background for the Soul Lounge – transporting essential equipment like hoists, hospital beds, various styles of chairs for people to find some respite amidst the four-day event.
The hours on the road, loading, stacking, re-packing, and coordinating pick-ups/drop-offs – does not go unnoticed.
Stephen is a volunteer that helps to make events and spaces like National Camp and the Soul Lounge happen.
Stephen’s story shows that volunteering with Elevate can the specific skill set God has given you to serve others – be it driving a van stacked to the hilt, doing the heavy-lifting, or supporting someone to participate in an activity.
Got skills you want to use to serve at the Soul Loung 2026?
Get in touch today by emailing Jacqui Sua at jacqui@elevate.org.nz. For more information about the Festival, check out this website.