We are a non-profit charity based in New Zealand, offering free creative therapy workshops for individuals who are experiencing illness, trauma, or loss. The workshops focus on beading crafts and offer a variety of items such as jewellery, bag tags, suncatchers, and bookmarks. Our charity aims to reach a wide audience; therefore, we collaborate exclusively with other charities around New Zealand. Our workshops are all-inclusive, non-judgmental spaces to create, gather and make friends.

We are in seven regions throughout New Zealand including Top of the south which includes Nelson, Richmond, Stoke, Blenheim, Picton, Murchison and Motueka.  All our staff and volunteers work from home for the majority of the time.

Our motto is Create-Support-Inspire. Participants are inspired and gain a real sense of achievement from creating and benefit from spending positive time with other people in similar situations.  

CanBead is our beading workshop. It consists of participants, volunteers, and a tutor. With a table full of beads, tools and instructions, one of our experienced tutors will give a short presentation, then the treasure-making begins. Participants can make up to two items ranging from Suncatchers, bookmarks, bag tags, key rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, wine glass charms and many more options.   We bring all the material needed to facilitate a workshop

When a new participant attends their first workshop, they receive a kit bag containing enough beads, findings and tools to continue at home and/or to share with family and friends whenever they feel the need for some more creative therapy. 

Some of our current host agencies are Cancer Society, Canteen, Loss and Grief, Head Injury, Red Cross, ICH, Stroke Club, Grandparents raising Grandchildren, Alzheimer’s, Deaf Community, and Able Minds (Mental Health).  

Our beads are donated in many forms; they could be broken jewellery, beads no longer needed, or ex shop stock.  We then break down any jewellery and all the beads are washed, dried and sorted by our wonderful volunteers and then used in our workshops for our participants to create new treasures.  We are currently looking for organisation/ business who would help us with bead drop off points within the Top of the South. In our other regions we have bead drop containers in Hospice secondhand stores and Cancer Society.   We have an amazing group of volunteers who do a range of activities; they help at workshops, fundraising, bead sorting, and sewing. 

If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to reach out.  Email Amy [email protected]

Some volunteer opportunities available with Canbead

Helping the Tutor at workshops 

Setting up the workspace, welcoming attendees, setting up bead trays, helping attendees during the workshop, helping attendees fill out feedback forms, and packing up at the end of the workshop. (full training will be given, plus all the tools needed) 

Breaking apart donated jewellery and sorting beads. 

 You will be given a container with donated jewellery   Including, the tools, bags and an instruction sheet.  Or you will be given loose beads in a container that have been washed and dried for you to sort out. Included is a range of plastic bags, bead mats, containers, and an instruction sheet.  These can be done in the comfort of your home. We also drop them off and collect them from you if needed. 

Fundraising Events 

We host a variety of events. These include one or two major fundraisers a year. For these events we need volunteers to help before the event with sorting items, selling tickets, sharing social media, etc. At the event volunteers will be helping with setting up, collecting money, selling raffles, serving refreshments, and packing up.   We also may from time to time have events where we need volunteers to help attendees make beaded items as a fundraiser. I.e. A business hosting a workshop as a social or team building event