Volunteering undervalued?

Recently I’ve been thinking about how I describe the Volunteer work I do to others. I mainly use the word ‘unpaid’ instead of the word ‘volunteer’. My reasoning is that the minute I describe the work I do as Voluntary people seem to view it less favourably than my paid work.

I would be interested to know your thoughts on the following:

• I s Volunteering undervalued?
• If the Voluntary sector put greater emphasis on the more skilled work their Volunteers did would this help?
• Do we need to make the image of Volunteer work more professional? What would this mean? Pros and Cons? Would this increase the value society places on Voluntary work?
• Do we need to view and hear more stories about the work Volunteers do e.g. in newspapers, on the web, in magazines? Would this change perceptions of ideas about what Volunteers do and how the Volunteers themselves perceive their work? 
• If Voluntary work was held in higher esteem by society what would this mean for the sector? Would Volunteers be easier to attract?
• Is there a particular stigma or perception about board/committee work? Is this partly why these positions are difficult to fill?

I look forward to some great discussion on this topic.

Cindy

Benefits of Volunteers working at multiple agencies

Like many Volunteers I work for more than 1 agency. One of the exciting things about this is the cross pollination of ideas that occurs. Networks, training and ideas gathered in 1 area support the work done in others.

Soon I will be attending a work shop on event planning (as part of my Volunteer work at Volunteering Canterbury). The skills learnt in this workshop will be very useful for my other work at Living Streets (they help organise an annual walk to work event).

• How many Volunteers at your agency work in another?
• What do you know about the work they do in these other agencies?
• How might the experience they gather be shared better than it is now?
• What are the boundaries of what is appropriate for a Volunteer to share between agencies?  

 I would love to hear your thoughts.

Cindy Carmichael (Volunteer IT Angel at Volunteering Canterbury)

Mileage rates for Volunteers

The IRD’s Operational Statement 09/01 allows mileage to be reimbursed at 70 cents per kilometre.  (This replaces the previous rate of 62 cents per kilometre.)     Ruth G

Budgeting for Volunteer Expenses

Hard economic times mean less discretionary income, and it’s likely that some volunteers who’ve previously chosen not to claim for their travel expenses may now want to do so.  As we look at our annual budgets we need to be aware of this.  It may be timely to remind funders that the VAVA (Value Added by Voluntary Agencies) Project showed that for every one dollar provided to a voluntary agency, between $3 and $5 worth of services are delivered.  Christchurch City Council research last year showed that for every dollar from the Community Board Community Development Fund, the community receives eight and a half hours of volunteer effort.

                                                      Ruth G

 

Heritage Volunteers

Nicky Lee, Volunteer Manager at ChristChurch Cathedral, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to visit England and look at volunteer management in heritage tourism sites especially cathedrals.

  Nicky found:

 

-         Heritage sites usually do not advertise for volunteers, often relying on existing volunteers to recruit new ones

-         Volunteers were usually selected by one person, not always a paid staff member

-         Most places required a police clearance

-         Some had agreements to be signed. One cathedral had a 30 page policy for the volunteer to sign, and it appeared that this could be seen as a way of dissuading older volunteers

-         Most favoured a buddy system for training, with new volunteers shadowing existing workers

-         The National Trust has comprehensive generic induction training material and a well developed manual of policies and procedures for the management of their volunteers

-         Verbal training was usual to supplement written material as heritage sites tend to be very “visual”

-         Some cathedrals run courses in the winter off-season to maintain volunteers’ interest and skills and to train new volunteers

-         Many cathedrals had a progression of positions available to volunteers

-         Length of service recognition was sometimes seen to be difficult as older volunteers were reluctant to retire before they reached a ‘recognition’ anniversary

-         One place visited offered twice yearly bus trips for volunteers as a way of recognising their gift of time

-         Good rest facilities for volunteers in their workplace and the quality of biscuits for their tea breaks were important (National Trust excelled here!) and was a reminder about recognising volunteers and the work they do

 

Some concerns were:

-         Long-term volunteers can mean that the “face” of the cathedral is an elderly one

-         Safety – in the absence of ACC, public liability insurance for over 80 year olds who are volunteers becomes an issue in the UK

-         Many of the environments inside cathedrals and mansions are potentially hazardous (low level lighting, worn steps, uneven floor surfaces, furniture) which is particularly significant when volunteers are elderly

-         Child visitors – legal issues regarding the responsibility and protection of children in the U.K. are a major part of the planning needed for visits of children to heritage sites and can influence programmes offered

 

Other observations:

-         Volunteers usually stayed for a full day, due to travelling time from their homes to workplace.

-         A higher ratio of paid staff to volunteers than in N.Z.  We rely more on volunteers to be with visitors (In U.K. they have paid staff in the Cathedrals to welcome visitors as well as volunteers)

-         Winchester Cathedral had no co-ordinator in place, leaving rostering to the various groups of volunteers who have historically managed themselves

-         Some places were reluctant to involve volunteers in handling cash, especially to collect entrance charges (which visitors may resent), but also working in Cathedral shops

-         Management understanding of the ethos of the cathedral may differ from that of the volunteers (e.g. commercial interests needed to support the cathedral financially versus spiritual ethos)

-         No difficulty attracting volunteers in most places – sigh…

                                                                             Ruth G

Using photos in publications

Collecting material for our 21^st anniversary booklet has raised some concerns regarding publishing photos under the provisions of the Privacy Act.

 

The Privacy Commissioner states that we need permission from anyone whose photo we wish to publish, and that ideally, this permission should be written.  (If the subject of the photo has since died, you don’t need to get their permission!)

 

Apparently, though, you can publish photos without the subjects’ permission if they are taken in a public place (or at a public event) and do not defame the subject. It’s standard practice in newspapers, who don’t identify such subjects by name.

 

The best advice we can give you about publishing photos is to consdier having a “permission to use photo” tickbox on any enrolment or nomination form that you design.    Ruth G

 

Are Volunteers Giving Up Control?

Volunteering Canterbury advocates that organisations ensure volunteers are offered the opportunity to influence organisational policy and direction.  This is often most easily achieved through an incorporated structure.  Generally (though not always) policy decisions in Incorporated Societies are made by the members at a general meeting.  In Charitable Trusts decisions tend to be made by the trust board members.

 

Recent research* shows “a strong trend, particularly in Auckland, of a move away from the collective towards corporate governance.  This was highlighted by the trend away from incorporated societies and towards charitable trust status.  Auckland boards and CEOs tended to be professional and university educated, while Christchurch Not-for-profits had a more community development focus, including more volunteers.” 

 

“The (Auckland) trend away from incorporated societies and towards trust status is due to difficulties in gaining quorums at AGMs and ensuring that elected board members have the necessary skills and commitments necessary to fulfil the requirements of a modern governance board.”

 

Why don’t people come to AGM’s?  Is it because the meetings are boring?  Or are people afraid they may be coerced into taking a role they don’t really want? 

 

Why is it apparently so hard for organisations to get Board members?  There is a trend for those considering voluntary roles to seek shorter term assignments.  It seems to be harder to find people who will take on roles of responsibility.  Some see such roles as carrying risks, but those risks may be more perceived than real.  Are we offering opportunities that suit today’s busy lifestyles?  Is there another way to attract good Board members, and/or to ensure that volunteers have the opportunity to influence the direction of their organisations?              

                                                                          Ruth G.

 

*From “Governance of Not-for-profit Organisations in Auckland and Christchurch”, 2008, by David Haigh, Lecturer, Unitec, Auckland.

Volunteer Angels

The Breeze radio station in Canterbury each week features the Angel Network where a special volunteer is selected to receive a bunch of flowers.  If you’d like to nominate someone send an e-mail to Braydon Priest (bpriest@radioworks.co.nz) with the volunteer’s name and phone number and a brief description of what they’ve done.  You need to add your own phone number and be prepared to speak briefly on air about the volunteer.  This is pre-recorded, so you don’t have the pressure of being live on air.
Ruth G

Need a poster or brochure designed?

Virtual Volunteers available

Idealist is a project of ‘Action Without Borders’, a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1995 and based in the U.S.  They’ve recently collaborated with the Art Directors Club to provide design and other creative help online.  If you’d like to benefit you need to register at Idealist, then select Pro-bono Design Project from the list of posting options.   Ruth G.

Volunteers turned off

Do you want good keen volunteers to work in your organisation?  Do you give them the courtesy of a friendly interview after they’ve approached you?  It’s hard for volunteers if they’re not shown this respect, and are left to fend for themselves in an unknown situation.  We have been disappointed to have potential volunteers report to us that their reception by a member organisation has been less than positive.  Please help us to make volunteering a great experience for everyone.               Ruth G.