July 2026
It’s been a chilly one this July, but that hasn’t stopped our tamariki from making the most of the season. They’ve been heading out for walks to catch the sunset, then warming up afterwards with hot chocolate, cosy stories, blankets, and games together.
We’ve also been celebrating Matariki by learning the stories behind the stars, trying our hand at weaving, making Ukutangi (traditional Māori instruments made from clay), and preparing a hāngī together. These experiences have been a wonderful opportunity for our tamariki to learn new skills, connect with one another, and enjoy the warmth and sense of belonging that Matariki brings.
It’s a perfect reflection of what Cholmondeley is all about: connection, warmth, and whānau time.
Here’s to more shared food, shared stories, and cosying up together as winter continues.
Kind regards,
The Cholmondeley Team
Friends of Cholmondeley
Last month, we were delighted to welcome two dedicated members of a local quilting group that meets each month. Over time, the talented group has lovingly created more than 20 beautiful quilts for the children to use on their beds, a generous gift that couldn't have come at a better time in these cooler winter months.
Thank you to all the wonderful ladies involved for such a thoughtful contribution.
Judy and Mary dropping off quilts to Cholmondeley
Team-Building Supports Cholmondeley
The team at Alpine Spa recently spent their team-building day doing something a bit different: building bikes! Eight of them, to be exact, and all have now been donated to Cholmondeley.
The timing is perfect too, with our pump track activity up and running, these bikes are going to get some serious use. Thank you, Alpine Spa. Our tamariki are going to have so much fun on these!
Christmas in July Quiz
On Friday 31 July, Cholmondeley was delighted to join our wonderful supporters, Runacres Insurance, at the Rolleston Business Networking International Mid Winter Quiz Night, hosted by Larcomb Vineyard and G&T Catering. Funds raised on the night going towards supporting Cholmondeley.
It was a brilliant evening of delicious food, great company, and plenty of friendly competition, and thanks to some impressive general knowledge from the Runacres team, we took out the top spot on the night!
A huge thank you to Runacres Insurance for the invitation, to Larcomb Vineyard and G&T Catering for their generosity in hosting, and to everyone who took part and helped raise funds for Cholmondeley. We love these chances to connect with our supporters and the wider community, all while having a bit of fun along the way.
Celebrating Our Volunteers
We're so lucky to have such wonderful volunteers giving their time to Cholmondeley.
Dave has been helping out in the gardens for over two years now. Rain or shine, he's out there keeping everything looking lovely.
Robyn and Darryl come in every week to help Nina in the kitchen, cooking up delicious meals for the children. We really appreciate their commitment.
Earlier in the year, Murray and his friends spent the day in the garden and did an amazing job getting the Centre looking beautiful. Murray's also been a regular giver to Cholmondeley for many years now, and it's been wonderful to see that support extend beyond giving into rolling up his sleeves and getting stuck in himself.
We'd also like to welcome Sienna, who's completing her Duke of Edinburgh Award with us. She'll be volunteering at Cholmondeley over the next two years, putting in 52 hours of community service.
And a big welcome to our international volunteers who've travelled all the way from Germany and Austria to spend 6 to 12 months with us here at Cholmondeley. It's a huge commitment to give up that much time so far from home, and we're so grateful for the energy and care they bring to the Centre.
Thank you to all our volunteers - you make such a difference to our Centre and the families we support.
Keen to Volunteer?
If you'd like to get involved, get in touch and we can chat about your interests and how you might be able to support the Centre.
New International Volunteers - Bruno, Conrad, Nathalie, Pia, Jana
Upcoming Events
Little Gems Cocktail Party is back this September
We're just weeks away and the excitement is building. Join us for the Little Gems Cocktail Party on Saturday 12 September at Majestic on Durham.
Grab your friends, your family, your work colleagues, or treat some clients to a night out to remember, live music, dancing, great wine and beer, and roaming canapés all night long.
We're thrilled to announce the return of the Merivale Little Gems Tree, with fantastic prizes on offer from participating stores including Blue Illusion, Dyberg Kern, Moda Bella, Savoire, Shampoo & Things, Sushi World, and Rembrandt.
Our live and silent auctions are packed with amazing items this year.
Best of all, every ticket you buy goes straight towards supporting Canterbury kids and their families.
Saturday 12 September 2026
7pm
Majestic on Durham, 189 Durham Street South