Celebrating Success - Volunteering Auckland 25 years old

Volunteering Auckland turned 25 years old last September 2015. Reflecting back over the past 25 years has shown how much Volunteering Auckland has grown and what we have achieved for volunteering in Auckland.

Being able to offer information about voluntary opportunities to those interested in volunteering assists in developing a connection to community for those otherwise unable to source these opportunities. It also enables the volunteers to develop skills, share skills, and enable personal connections for a sense of belonging in a community.

Overall we have had a steady flow of registrations through our Recruitment and Referral Programme this past year with 5,414 people registered as volunteers. A new record! For those registering as volunteers we made a total of 8,892 referrals [another new record!] to 187 voluntary positions within 217 member community organisations across Auckland.

Delivery of our Employee Volunteering Programme saw 1,210 people referred to 130 community projects, contributing 6,588 hours to the community. All new records! Being able to refer potential volunteers to NGOs, who need the support of volunteers, enables those same NGOs to contribute to the community through their service delivery.

Some of the great results that have been achieved through the EV programme this past year include:

• over 1000 hours contributed to organisations and projects that assist those people who are in need of additional support
• over 280 staff from our corporate member companies contributed to the betterment of services available for people with intellectual and physical challenges
• and over 3,000 hours of volunteer time contributed to environmental projects and programmes in the Auckland region that enhance conservation, restoring our legacy for future generations.

Being able to assist in the professional development of NGOs through offering workshops, consultancy opportunities, advice and information in the area of managing volunteers and volunteer-involving programmes enables these same NGOs to effectively engage volunteers to the benefit of their clients, the volunteers and their communities.

The continuing development of our VA-CONNECT database is ensuring that volunteering opportunities are even easier to access with instant referrals to member NGOs. This aspect of the development went live 15 May 2015. We are moving into the next phase of development with our EV Programme being incorporated into CONNECT to enable a quicker flow through of connections between Corporate business teams and NGO community projects.

Our key strategic partnerships and relationships have been instrumental in assisting us in the delivery of our services and we very much want to thank Auckland Council with our many levels of relationships with the Mayor’s Office, individual Councillors in particular Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, Cr Cathey Casey and Cr Christine Fletcher, Community Development, Parks & Recreation, Civil Defence and the individual staff with whom we work in partnership – too many to name individually.

We would also like to acknowledge the Coaching and Mentoring Centre of NZ, Unitec, in particular the Community Development Social Practice Department, Auckland University Politics and International Relations School of Social Sciences, Albert-Eden Local Board and Auckland Regional Migrant Centre , all of whom we work in partnership to enhance, grow and strengthen volunteering within the greater Auckland region.

I can no other answer make, but thanks, and thanks. W. Shakespeare

Cheryll Martin
General Manager