Championing Volunteering for Impact
Be Bold, Make Change
International Volunteer Managers Day – 5 November
For Cheryll Martin QSO, General Manager of Volunteering Auckland, the future of volunteering is about recognition, resourcing, and real impact. She envisions a world where volunteering is taken seriously by boards, senior management, and government — not just praised in words, but fully supported with funding, infrastructure, and professional development for the leaders of volunteers.
“Volunteering needs to be a place where people can thrive, belong, and grow,” Cheryll says.
“Diversity should be the norm, not the exception, and leaders of volunteers need the time, skills, and support to ensure their teams make a real difference.”
Cheryll believes that measuring impact is just as important as counting hours. “Boards and senior managers must move beyond reporting on numbers of volunteers. They need to focus on the tangible contribution volunteers make to clients, communities, and organisations, and share that impact widely.”
She also emphasizes the strategic role of volunteering infrastructure, including Volunteer Centres, as essential community resources that require proper investment and recognition.
To help shape this future, Cheryll continues to challenge and inspire leaders of volunteering. She creates resources, connects professionals, and facilitates knowledge-sharing so they can reflect on their practices, consider their impact, and elevate the role of volunteering within their organisations.
“I will keep making leaders think about the difference they are contributing and how they can do it more strategicall.,”
Her advice to fellow Leaders of Volunteer Engagement is clear: invest in yourself, network, and share your knowledge. “Take the time to reflect on your practice, learn from others, and document your experiences. We all have something valuable to share, and by doing so, we strengthen the whole volunteering sector.”
For Cheryll, being bold is about courage, leadership, and commitment — ensuring volunteering is valued, resourced, and positioned for lasting impact.
