IYV Snapshot
Many organisations have planned activities to celebrate The International Year of Volunteers (IYV):
- The NZ Fire Service has about 8000 volunteers in rural and urban areas. The Fire Service is celebrating their contribution with articles in its magazine 'Star', along with posters and radio advertising to publicise the role of volunteers. The Fire Service is also developing a fact sheet explaining the role of volunteer fire-fighters. The Fire Service is to review the grants that are received by volunteer fire brigades, review volunteer involvement in Fire Service regional operating committees, and is looking at developing an agreement for service between the Fire Service Commission and volunteer fire brigades.
- At the Ministry of Justice, internal newsletters will highlight the International Year of Volunteers by profiling staff members' experience of volunteer work and their achievements in the voluntary sector. Every 3 months, the Ministry hosts a Maori Issues Seminar. The theme for the seminars this year is "Volunteers in the Justice Sector".
- The Time Use Survey conducted by the Ministry of Women's Affairs provides useful information on many aspects of volunteering. This information includes estimates of the time people spend doing voluntary work, and details about the kinds of organisations that co-ordinate voluntary work.
- ACC staff are planning to work with members of the Brain Injury Association.
- In the second half of the year, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage will publish an article in its newsletter acknowledging the work of volunteers who assist the History Group.
- At the Ministry of Social Policy (MSP), the research team will be publishing a literature review which examines changes in the level and nature of volunteering within social service organisations, possible reasons for changes in volunteering, and expectations of the future role of volunteers within these organisations. MSP's Community Policy team is investigating a government strategy to support volunteering in the longer term, and MSP has purchased IYV-2001 stickers which will be placed on outgoing envelopes. The Senior Citizens Unit (SCU) of MSP is planning to contribute a chapter to a report on older people as volunteers, which is being co-ordinated by the Victoria University's Positive Ageing and Intergenerational Research Project. The chapter will focus on the experiences of Volunteer Community Co-ordinators who work with the SCU.
- Every month, Sports Eastland will host a ceremony honouring the "Sports Volunteer of the Month". Voluntary organisations in Gisborne will also take part in functions every month of The International Year of Volunteers to honour volunteers from the region (see the Gisborne Herald for more information).
- Every month, The Oamaru Mail will publish an article focusing on the work of an individual volunteer.
- Age Concern will develop a fact sheet about volunteering to mark The International Year of Volunteers.
- On the fourth Tuesday of every month, the Auckland Volunteer Centre will host a monthly meeting for managers/co-ordinators of volunteers. The Auckland Centre will also publicise the contribution of volunteers through advertising campaigns, meetings with government and business leaders, and the promotion of the Universal Declaration on Volunteering.
- The Canterbury Volunteer Centre has available a variety of products promoting the International Year of Volunteers. These include pens, bumper stickers, bookmarks and postcards. Planned newspaper and television coverage, advertising signs around Christchurch and a written history of the Canterbury Volunteer Centre will also raise the profile of voluntary work.
- VolunteerWellington has organised a monthly media campaign highlighting voluntary work. It is also developing a partnership with Wellington City Council, and working with government agencies such as the NZ Immigration Service, the Accident Compensation Corporation and Inland Revenue to review policies on volunteering.
- The Dunedin Volunteer Centre has organised many events to publicise voluntary work, such as window displays, a display of art by secondary school students at Otago Museum and, in collaboration with Dunedin City Council, a garden plot featuring the International Year of Volunteers symbol.
- The Arthritis Foundation of NZ conducts an annual survey of its volunteers, as well as having many policies and procedures in place relating to the needs of volunteers. This year, the Foundation plans to emphasise the role of volunteers at its AGM and Conference, and is considering nominating "Volunteer Heroes" in recognition of people who have done outstanding work for the Foundation. Further information about these activities is available in the Foundation's newsletter, 'Arthritis News'.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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