A butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker may be from a nursery rhyme but thousands of everyday New Zealanders are worth millions to the RNZFB. How? They volunteer.

To put a dollar figure on it, the RNZFB's volunteers contribute at least $15.7 million annually - this equates to an estimated 823 full-time-equivalent jobs!

"Volunteers are absolutely essential to the Foundation," says Alison Marshall, RNZFB National Manager Volunteer Services. "Each year around 1.5 million hours are volunteered!

"We've always valued our volunteers, but this figure really highlights how vital they are. Without them thousands of blind, deafblind and vision-impaired New Zealanders would not achieve independence; something that most of us take for granted."

Volunteers fulfil a wide range of roles at the RNZFB – visiting members, delivering talking book machines, providing transport to eye related appointments, supporting appeal collections, reading local information on the Foundation's Telephone Information Service, … the list goes on.

"RNZFB volunteers don't do the boring stuff no-one else wants to do," says Alison.

"Depending on the person's background, skills and interests, we can find them as much or as little work that suits them and fits in with their other commitments. You don't have to volunteer days at a time; it might be two hours a week or helping out at events as required."

And age isn't a barrier, just ask RNZFB member and volunteer Clarice Anderson of Waipukurau. At 83 years young and after 35 years of volunteering she's still going strong.

"I've always been concerned with people feeling or being left out of things, and if your sight isn't good then it's too easy to become isolated," says Clarice, who organises the delivery and maintenance of talking book machines, is on the Central Hawkes Bay RNZFB Community Committee and organises regular social afternoons for VIPs.

"Some might think VIP stands for vision impaired people, but to us it means Very Important People!

"Age doesn't mean that you stop learning or enjoying company. We share easy 'tricks' for doing everyday things, have a chat and a laugh and, as a braille reader and email user, I even encourage others to try new technology.

"A lot of people who lose their vision when they get older think they can't go out anymore or keep doing the things they love. But by showing them that I can do it, it gives them confidence to try."

The RNZFB is always looking for volunteers so put your hand up to help!

To find out how you can support blind, deafblind and vision-impaired people in your community phone 0800 24 33 33 and ask to be put in touch with your local Volunteer Co-ordinator.

ENDS

Research - The "Value Added by Voluntary Agencies, Agency Research Report: The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind" was commissioned by the New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations and conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (September 2004).

To get in touch with one of our amazing volunteers in your area or for copy of the report please contact:

Jane Gower
RNZFB Communications Co-ordinator
Ph: 09 355 6884 or 021 357 412