Volunteer Driver Mentor – Community Driver Mentor Programme
Supervise two driving sessions per week for up to 12 weeks, helping a learner move from their learner’s to restricted licence. With support from a driving instructor and coordinator, you’ll build their confidence, improve road safety, and open doors to new opportunities. A small commitment can change a life—join us in creating safer roads and stronger communities!
Key Duties:
As a Volunteer Driver Mentor, you will:
- Provide supervised driving practice to learners in a programme-provided vehicle.
- Offer encouragement, guidance, and constructive feedback to build their driving skills and confidence.
- Support learners in preparing for their restricted licence test by reinforcing safe driving habits.
Skills and Experience Needed:
- A patient and confident driver.
- Hold a Full NZ Driver’s Licence for at least two years.
- Available to volunteer for two drives per week.
- A supportive and encouraging attitude to help learners succeed.
Organisational Background:
The Community Driver Mentor Programme has been helping individuals gain their restricted licence, improving their independence, employment opportunities, and road safety for over 10 years in Christchurch. We connect volunteer mentors with learners who may not have access to a suitable vehicle or support system to gain driving experience.
Benefits of Volunteering:
- Make a meaningful impact in someone’s life by increasing their mobility and opportunities.
- Give back to your community by helping create safer, more confident drivers.
- Receive training and ongoing support to guide you in your role.
- Use a programme-provided vehicle—no need to use your own.
- Join a social group of passionate volunteer mentors.
The Impact of Volunteering:
By sharing your time and skills, you empower someone to gain their licence, opening doors to employment, education, and independence. Your support helps build safer roads and stronger communities.
If you’re interested, get in touch to learn more about the next steps, including a short training session and background checks.
Community Driver Mentor Programme (CDMP)
The Community Driver Mentor Programme is a life-changing initiative that empowers individuals without access to an eligible full licenced supervisor, or a warranted, registered vehicle to obtain their driver’s licence. Our community-based programme pairs learner drivers with caring and dedicated volunteer mentors, who provide free driving sessions and unwavering support to help them achieve their goals. This programme is designed to give learners experience on the road that will help support them in being a safe driver and pass the test first time.
Our History
The Salvation Army’s Driving Training Programmes began in 2014 with the support of Waka Kotahi to rollout the Community Driver Mentor Programme pilot from the Aranui Corps in Christchurch. Due to the success of the programme within Christchurch, the programmes have since expanded to cover rural locations through Canterbury and the West Coast, offering various initiatives tailored to the target community, with specific frameworks to suit their needs. The programme may have
only started as a pilot with 1 person and 1 car. But now we have expanded to a fleet
of 20 cars, a team of 15 staff and over 100 mentors.
Our Mission
Making our roads safer, our families mobile and our youth employable; a driving licence makes a difference. Transforming Lives.