• What is Volunteer Services?
• What sort of people volunteer for the RNZFB?
• What do volunteers do?
• How much time is required?
• How do I become an RNZFB volunteer?
• Once selected as an RNZFB volunteer

What is Volunteer Services?

Volunteers are vital to the work of the RNZFB, and in the course of a year over 10,000 people volunteer for it. This includes volunteers for Red Puppy Appeal and Blind Week. Volunteering provides a wonderful opportunity to meet people, learn new skills, share existing skills, and have fun and give something back to your community.

What sort of people volunteer for the RNZFB?

RNZFB volunteers are ordinary people who come from a wide range of backgrounds and age groups. They are interested in supporting the RNZFB's aims and have a desire to support blind, deafblind and vision-impaired people to take charge of their own lives. Volunteers enable RNZFB members to enjoy their independence and to participate in their communities.

What do volunteers do?

Some of the many ways that volunteers can help members include:

• Driving members to and from eye-related appointments and RNZFB activities
• Providing short-term shopping assistance
• Assisting members to learn to use talking-book machines and order books from the RNZFB's library
• Being part of a telephone tree
• Supporting other members through peer support activities
• Assisting with recreation and social activities
• Providing support for Foundation services
  
• Reading on to the RNZFB's Telephone Information Service (TIS)
• Providing direct reading support (e.g. for mail)
• Being a puppy walker or guide dog breeding stock guardian
• Helping with local fundraising projects
• Getting involved in the local Community Committee

How much time is required?

This depends on how much time the volunteer is able to give and the role they take on. Both longer and shorter term roles are offered. Local Volunteer Coordinators can provide more information.

How do I become an RNZFB volunteer?

The RNZFB will:

1. Send out information about volunteering and an 'Offer of help' form
2. Talk about areas of interest, strengths and availability
3. Ask for permission to conduct reference checks
4. Ask that the volunteer sign a 'Volunteer Agreement', which covers important issues such as confidentiality, their role and the support that the Foundation gives them.

Once selected as an RNZFB volunteer

Volunteers need to attend an orientation programme that explains in detail what the organisation does, the different types of eye conditions members have and a range of blindness awareness matters. There is training in how to guide a blind, deafblind or vision-impared person safely.

Then volunteers are matched with a role that is right for them and will receive regular and ongoing support, as well as invitations to recognition functions, certificates for training and long service, refresher training and the opportunity to further participate in the work of the RNZFB as an Associate member (if they wish).

The RNZFB makes reimbursement for agreed expenses.

If you are interested in volunteering your time, please call 0800 24 33 33 and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator closest to you. You can also email us on volunteers . When you email, remember to tell us where in New Zealand you are, your phone number and the best time for us to call.