Partnership strengthens volunteer base
A new partnership between Volunteering Bay of Plenty (VBOP) and Western Bay of Plenty District Council aims to provide a volunteer force to strengthen one of the most important environmental groups in the Western Bay, the Otainewainuku Kiwi Trust.
Council has signed a one-year contract with Volunteering Bay of Plenty (VBOP) to help find a volunteer co-ordinator and to put together a volunteering programme for the Trust.
The Kiwi Trust (OKT) is a community-based conservation organisation formed in 2002 by Te Puke Forest and Bird and other members of the community concerned at the decline of North Island Brown Kiwi in the Otanewainuku Forest.
The trust operates under an agreement with the Department of Conservation (DOC). Volunteers are the life-blood of the trust but some larger jobs, such as coordinating the work programme for the 100 volunteers, exceed what can be reasonably expected from a volunteer.
VBOP Manager Theo Ursum is thrilled Council has come alongside, as the volunteers are fully stretched with workloads.
"The Kiwi Trust has grown from a very small to a major organisation but has reached a tipping point where volunteers need more structure and direction.
"Volunteering Bay of Plenty specialises in marrying organisations and individuals with coordinated work programmes, advice and ongoing support. The Kiwi Trust has done a fantastic job to date thanks to its core of volunteers - through this contract with Council we aim to help the Trust and other organisations grow the amount they can achieve through volunteer strength and expertise.''
Theo says the volunteering world is changing from an older workforce willing to give their time and skills, to a younger force who have passion but are also asking ``what's in it for me?
VBOP will help the Kiwi Trust define and channel volunteers' passion into specific roles and identify skills so that volunteers are placed in the best positions within the organisation. This professional approach has payback for everyone, says Theo.
Council's Relationships Advisor Glenn Ayo says having VBOP on board is a win-win for the Trust.
"VBOP provides consistent recruitment practices, management and continuity for the trust. It ensures volunteers are looked after; get a quality induction and the right opportunities for their own personal development.
"We have this incredible virgin forest protection programme on our doorstep so this new approach to volunteering will be more inclusive of people in Tauranga and Western Bay. This in turn will attract more interest from the philanthropic sector funders and sponsors,'' says Glenn.
VBOP will work with the Trust to create a new volunteer handbook; update policies and procedures; update the database; write role descriptions; survey and collect statistics and run workshops for the trustees on the art of managing volunteers.
Image: Kiwi Tracking Volunteer for the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust Sheryl Peterson has been a Trust volunteer since 2003.
