Spotlight on Sam Booth: An outstanding leader of volunteers

Each year Volunteering Auckland presents three LoVE Awards to Leaders of Volunteer Engagement – and each year we’re inspired anew by the amazing recipients, by what they do, and by the impact they have.

Sam Booth is the incredibly deserving winner of our ultimate accolade – the LoVE Award for Individual Leader of Volunteer Engagement.

The award recognises people who have shown exceptional volunteer leadership and influence in support of people, a community group, or cause. It pays tribute to dedicated and passionate individuals with a sustained and substantial record of commitment.

Sam is without doubt an incredibly deserving recipient of this award.

She spent eight years as the Tutor Trainer and Resource Co-ordinator at English Language Partners North Shore – a role she was so successful at that she was appointed as ELP’s first National Volunteer Advisor earlier this year, supporting the volunteer leaders and volunteering programmes at all 21 ELP centres around New Zealand.

English Language Partners (ELP) has been providing free English language tuition to adult migrants and refugees since the 1970s – and volunteering is at the very heart of the organisation. Most is through one-on-one in-home lessons by volunteer tutors, with some group classes led by paid teachers.

A diverse range of volunteer tutors spend an hour or two each week with English language learners in their homes. The teaching is very practical and tailored to what each person needs. It could be as simple as helping them understand their children’s school newsletters, how to call their doctor’s surgery and understand the automated voice system, navigate public transport, or be able to talk with neighbours and make new friends.

The impact is has on the lives of their students is immense – and it would not be possible without the enthusiastic volunteers.

The North Shore centre has around 85 active volunteer tutors – and the 21 centres combined have around 1000 volunteer tutors nationwide.

It’s no small task – but one that Sam clearly loves and excels at.

Under the guise of a business-as-usual interview for the Volunteering Auckland website – before the surprise award presentation – Sam told us: ‘It’s not just a job. It’s my passion’

We went on to ask her: ‘What’s your secret?’

‘Communication!’ she said. ‘Making sure we’re always checking in on our volunteers, offering professional development opportunities, celebrating their successes, recognising what they do.’

It’s evident that Sam’s a great communicator – on the phone, in person, by email, by text, and online.
Sam told us: ‘It starts with successful onboarding – making volunteers feel welcome, and ensuring they’re really well trained.

‘We ask volunteers about their motivations, and why they want to volunteer with our organisation, making sure their values align with ours, and really listening to them and making sure their needs are met, and they know they’re valued.’

Sam’s also a huge supporter and user of ELP’s ‘Circle’ intranet – saying that it’s a fantastic tool for sharing resources and information, and is a great ‘community space’ where volunteers can share information and experiences. As volunteers work individually in people’s homes, that ability to be able to connect and feel part of a team is absolutely crucial, says Sam.

It’s clear Sam’s approach works. Volunteer numbers now back at pre-Covid levels, and a growing number of volunteers staying for many years.

ELP North Shore manager Andrew Barron sums it up better than we ever could … or Sam ever would!

‘Sam’s a star,’ he says. ‘She’s an incredibly dedicated and talented individual. She’s a great problem solver, has great strategic vision, and is very innovative.’

‘She’s developed a very successful programme on the North Shore – which made her a ‘go to’ person for support and ideas.’

Sam developed new modules for the North Shore’s training programme – implementing new training, and best practice processes that were then also adopted by other centres.

‘She’s also a qualified teacher with 20 years’ experience – so she understands teaching, and she understands learners. She knows what it takes to make a good lesson – and how to support volunteer teachers and learners to get the most out of what we do.

‘Sam’s a real people person, who gets on well with everyone she meets. She cares greatly about our volunteers, and is absolutely passionate about making sure the volunteers are well trained, so they come out of the training ready to really support our learners in the community.’

‘Sam’s really great at creating a community of volunteers,’ Andrew says.

She provides excellent ongoing support for volunteers: by phone, in person, by email and text, and online – plus running regular workshops for volunteers.

‘Our volunteers work on their own visiting people in their homes – so it’s important to find ways for volunteers to feel connected, have a sense of belonging and being a part of a team, and to share experiences and resources.’

Our congratulations to Sam – an exceptional Leader of Volunteers, and the very worthy recipient of Volunteering Auckland’s 2024 Leader of Volunteer Engagement Award.

KEEN TO DO SOME VOLUNTEERING?
Check out the hundreds of volunteering opportunities available on the Volunteering Auckland website:
https://volunteeringauckland.org.nz/individuals/opportunities