Pegasus Post: March 07, 2024

Thursday March 7 2024 5
Donating time to assist their community
Right across the city,
some amazing women
help their community
every day. To mark
International Women’s
Day tomorrow, reporter
Sasha Watson spoke
to advocators and
empowerers Sharon
Layton and Phillipa
Jacobs-Lory
“EVERYONE HAS one hour per
week to spend with a child.”
That’s the motto of Big Brothers
Big Sisters (BBBS) volunteer
Sharon Layton, who has spent
the last nine years giving support
to children and teens in need.
“In 2008 to 2009, almost every
charity was; write a cheque and
give us money. Well, I didn’t
have money. But I had time.”
So, she joined BBBS, where
children and teenagers are
paired up with an adult to spend
an hour together, after school or
on the weekend, for a minimum
of one year.
“The kids get put forward by
a school or a church or similar
because something has happened
in their home life and they’re
falling through the gaps.
“We don’t spend money on
the kids and we don’t interfere.
Anything said doesn’t go back
to their parents, it’s just to be a
stable extra person to trust, talk
STRENGTH: Sharon Layton, left, has spent the last nine years giving an hour each week to
support to children and teens in need. Zonta’s New Zealand District 16 Governor, Phillipa
Jacobs-Lory, has had a passion for working with women for more than 20 years.
to and do things with.”
Layton is the owner and operator
of property management firm
Quinovic Merivale.
“Time is something people
don’t consider but now with how
flexible work can be and it not
being all about working nine to
five, charity work can suit most
people.
“It gives me joy and absolute
fulfilment knowing these kids,
who could’ve gone down a
wrong path, didn’t. I can’t see
myself stopping anytime soon.”
Layton’s longest pairing, which
ended last year, was for seven
years and she said her new
pairing of a few months is going
well.
“It’s a great thing if a kid gets
more out of their life. Some
volunteers go to graduations or
21st parties and some kids say
we, BBBS, have saved their lives,”
said Layton.
There have been 2560 matches
of children, teens and adults
within BBBS’ Christchurch
sector across 20 years, with 175
matches in the past year, and 140
current open matches.
Layton is also a part of the
Zonta Club of Christchurch-
Canterbury, which is a global
initiative that works on building
a better world and society for
all girls and women to fully
participate in.
The club is hosting a global
Zonta Rose Day today, which is
a ticketed event, and will have
four guest speakers; Kendall
Flutey, Ella Archer, Cheryl Doig
and Jenny Clark speaking about
gender equality in innovative
and technological industries.
The event starts at 5.30pm at
Richmond Club. Tickets cost
$35 ($36 when purchased online),
which includes bubbles and nibbles
and can be purchased from
https://zontachristchurch.org.nz/
buy-tickets/
Zonta New Zealand District 16
governor Phillippa Jacobs-Lory
has been a part of the club for
about 17 years and will be at the
celebration.
“Whilst I might be the governor,
it is just a position. Everything
we do has everyone putting
in something.
“I’m grateful to live in a country
which gives back to the community
with hundreds of people
to help me.
“I’ve had a passion for working
with women for more than 20
years and have determination and
loyalty to helping others.”
The New Brighton resident is
the founder and chief executive of
Pinnacle & Co in the city centre,
a full-service creative, marketing,
advertising, web design and
development agency.
SPONSORED CONTENT
House of Travel expanding
with new Marshland store
HOT ON THE heels of
the opening of House of
Travel Christchurch City
in November, House of
Travel has opened another
Christchurch store, House
of Travel Prestons in
Marshland.
The new store with a
team of five experienced
consultants opened on
Monday (19thFebruary)
making a total of six
new store openings for
the brand in the last 18
months, and it doesn’t
plan to stop there.
Jayne Alldred, Retail
Director says that “House
of Travel have ambitious
growth targets and are
committed to opening
new stores. With record
levels of enquiry, sales,
and growth we are excited
about the opportunities to
welcome more experienced
consultants from across
the industry.
“House of Travel’s
purpose has always been
to enrich people’s lives
through travel, and over
the past five years we
have supported twentyone
travel consultants to
become business owners.
“With our highly
successful Owner
Operator/Business Partner
development programme
we have seen consultants
flourish as small business
owners, enjoying great
returns on the time and
energy they invest in our
businesses.
“We’re always interested
in talking to anyone
wanting to take the next
step in their career with
HOT, whether as a travel
consultant or with a view
to owning their own
House of Travel store.”
Nicky de Clifford and
Lisa Hutchison are the
new owner operators of
House of Travel Prestons,
the pair also own the
highly successful House of
Travel Merivale store, and
both started their journey
with House of Travel as
travel consultants.
“Travel is back and
Kiwis are once again
jetting abroad in large
numbers” says Nicky de
Clifford, co-owner of
House of Travel Prestons,
who has 25 years of travel
industry experience.
“Due to this demand,
the time is right to invest
and engage with our local
community through
our new store. With the
support of our experienced
team, the partnership
from the House of Travel
Holdings team and the
strength of the House of
Travel brand behind us
we know there will be no
looking back.”
Lisa Hutchison, coowner
of House of Travel
Prestons, who decided
to become a travel agent
after living in Scotland
and travelling Europe
during an OE, adds the
experienced team of
consultants are excited to
be supporting the local
community with their
travel needs.
“Travel is never ‘cookie
cutter’ and we like to
ensure that each holiday
is planned with care. In
today’s world, having a
reliable point of contact
abroad is essential.”
The store is easily
recognisable with the
iconic House of Travel
purple hue throughout the
space and signage that can
be seen from the street.
The store will be open
five days a week Monday
to Friday, 9am–5pm.
ccc.govt.nz/ecosort