Volunteers
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The real value of volunteers
The 1,546,500 hours put in by our volunteers annually add up to an astonishing 823 equivalent full-time jobs. Those hours contribute between $16 million and $30 million to our organisation, or up to 85 percent of our income from all sources.
These are just a few of the results from a newly released research report on not-for-profit organisations.
The RNZFB chose to participate in the year-long Value Added by Voluntary Agencies study along with 9 other agencies. These included Barnardos, Citizens Advice Bureau and the IHC. In contrast to the 1.5 million hours put in by RNZFB volunteers, the average number of volunteer hours for the other participating agencies was only 685,000.
"The information from the report reinforces the importance of volunteers to the Foundation," says National Volunteer Manager Alison Marshall. "It will also be extremely useful for publicly recognising the contribution that all, and especially Foundation volunteers, generously give to organisations everyday."
One of the RNZFB's most dedicated volunteers is Dulcie McNaughton, who works with fundraising.
"I don't think people realise how much work there is in preparing an appeal," she says.
Dulcie spends two days a week helping with administration work for the Guide Dog Appeal and Blind Week. In the lead up and during the appeal that increases to every day.
"Somebody has to account for what's in the buckets, as well as go out and rattle them," she says. "If you're going to be accountable - and I think you have to be because it's public money - then it takes time, and systematic, careful recording."
Dulcie also likes to keep busy. When her husband died six years ago after an illness, there was a gap that had been previously filled by twice daily hospital visits. At the time the volunteer working on the Blind Week Appeal was sick. Dulcie stepped in, and stayed on.
"I may help track the money," says Dulcie, "but I don't count the cost of what I do. I'm one of a team of people, and being part of a team is a fine thing ... I've often heard that volunteers are not acknowledged enough but that's never been my experience."
If you would like to become a volunteer, contact your regional volunteer co-ordinator on 0800 24 33 33.