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Media Release For Immediate Release
18 June 2007
Celebrating Volunteer Diversity Volunteer Awareness Week (17 – 23 June)
Tangata Whenua, and Community and Voluntary Sector organisations are working harder than ever to attract and retain volunteers in a tight labour market, according to Sector organisations.
Volunteer Awareness Week is taking place throughout New Zealand this week (17-23 June), celebrating the enormous contribution of more than 1 million volunteers. Equally it aims to encourage many more New Zealanders to take up the challenge of becoming a volunteer.
COmVOiceS – a network of Sector organisations – says the week is a timely reminder that nearly 90% of non-profit organisations are entirely reliant on volunteers to provide their services and activities.
“The value of New Zealand volunteers is often grossly underestimated and COmVOiceS is calling on all New Zealanders to take time during Volunteer Awareness Week to recognise their contribution to society,” says Ric Odom, National Executive Officer of YMCA New Zealand.
Wendi Wicks of DPA, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities, says organisations are working harder than ever in the current tight labour market to attract and retain volunteers.
“More people are working than ever before and in a tight labour market there is strong pressure for parents at home and older New Zealanders to get back into the workforce. That means there are fewer people around who have the opportunity or time to support the operation of marae and voluntary organisations, the local playcentre, after school sports coaching, or providing meals on wheels,” she says.
Tim Burns, Executive Director of Volunteering New Zealand says non-profit organisations are a crucial part of our society.
“Most of our sporting groups, many arts and cultural groups, hobby groups, ethnic associations, residents groups, service clubs, environmental groups, historical societies, professional associations and many advocacy groups are all non-profits. Not to mention the thousands upon thousands of health, welfare and other charities and self-help groups that hold our community together,” he says.
Ros Rice, Executive Officer of New Zealand Council of Social Services says the economic value of voluntary groups is significant: A study of 10 of the largest voluntary social service groups found that for every dollar they receive in funding, they deliver between three and five dollars worth of services to communities.
Robyn Scott, Executive Director of Philanthropy New Zealand says few private or public sector organisations could add the same level of value that these nonprofit organisations were achieving: “Neither could they replace the immense skills, knowledge and understanding that voluntary groups contribute to our communities,” she says.
For more information on Volunteer Awareness Week visit: www.volunteeringnz.org.nz.
ENDS
COMVOICES is an independent network of Tangata Whenua and leading community and voluntary organisations that has been set up to promote the voluntary sector and the contribution it makes to New Zealand society.
For more information, please contact:
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