Volunteering
Giving time as a volunteer is a very important way in which people can contribute to their communities.
There are many ways in which this can be done. It may be just for a short period of time such as helping with a street collection or on-the-day organisation of a special event.
It could be a longer term commitment helping a community organisation or service in a variety of ways. Being a committee or board member, helping with some of the service's activities or becoming involved in special longer term projects such as an ongoing conservation programme.
There are also those services such as civil defence where the volunteer needs to be well trained and ready for the emergency when it happens.
There are opportunities for volunteering in every sector of the community emergency services, health, welfare, education, sport and recreation, conservation, the arts, special interests and advocacy.
If you are interested in volunteering, but are unsure how to go about it, there is likely to be a volunteer centre in your region which can assist you find a position that will suit your skills and interests.
You can contact the centre nearest you by calling 0800 VOL CNTR (0800 865 268). Alternatively you can visit the website www.volunteernow.org.nz. You will be able to search for volunteer positions listed by the regional volunteer centres and some national organisations. Contact details for each volunteer centre are also available on this website.
Working to promote and support volunteering and volunteers at the national level is Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ), an association of volunteer centres and national organisations with a strong commitment to volunteering.
VNZ's mission is to create an environment that supports, promotes, values and encourages effective volunteering by the people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
To fulfil its mission, VNZ has a number of important aims which include:
- Raising both an individual and collective interest in the value of volunteering and to create a well-informed public.
- Communicating and working with Government, other organisations and individuals about issues related to volunteering.
- Providing and/or promoting services such as educational programmes and volunteer recruitment through organised groups including regional volunteer centres, other national and regional organisations and government agencies.
- Undertake and/or promote research and the publication and dissemination of material relevant to the development of volunteering.
- To participate in any other activities which are considered practicable and desirable in reaching the objects outlined above.
- To represent New Zealand volunteering internationally.
Some of the activities which VNZ undertakes include:
- The provision of information, resource material and links through its website, www.volunteeringnz.org.nz. The material includes a code of practice for volunteers and another code for organisations who involve volunteers in their activities.
- The promotion of opportunities for individuals to undertake volunteering through the website www.volunteernow.org.nz. This is managed in conjunction with the nine member volunteer centres and lists the volunteer positions the centres have listed, as well as positions being offered by national organisations which are members of VNZ.
- A monthly newsletter, VNZ Update, which is distributed electronically and which provides current news relating to volunteering, updates on VNZ activities, articles on volunteering good practice and management etc.
- Co-ordination of publicity programmes for two major annual events - International Volunteer Day, held on 5 December and Volunteer Awareness Week, held every March. Resource material such as publicity toolkits are produced, with priority for receipt of these resources being given to VNZ members.
- Representation and advocacy to Government and other agencies on matters which impact on volunteers and volunteering. For example, VNZ made submissions on the initial legislation being considered by Parliament for the establishment of the Charities Commission. It now makes follow-up representations to the Commission on its activities as they affect volunteers.
- The organisation of national education/training events including seminars by high level overseas educators in volunteer recruitment, training and management.
- The promotion and support of research on volunteering.
If you wish to know more about the work of Volunteering NZ:
E-mail: office@volunteeringnz.org.nz
Phone: +64 4 3843636
Address: Volunteering New Zealand
PO Box 24526
Wellington