Published 17 July 2023
“If someone can only commit to a two-hour event once a year, that's just as valuable as someone who can volunteer 8 hours a day five days a week. " Kate Aplin from Whatunga Tūao Volunteer Central shares what volunteering looks like in Aotearoa today.
Kate Aplin, Scott Groves, and Grant Smith celebrated National Volunteer Week by hosting a tea and cake talk shop at EASIE Living. They’re all involved in volunteering in different ways.
Check out disability information at EASIE Living (external link)
“It used to be that people would volunteer after they retire, but in today's reality, people cannot afford to retire.” Says Kate, Whatunga Tūao Volunteer Central Manager. This means people are doing more episodic volunteering, meaning they are only committing to volunteer for a small amount of time.
"It might be a six-week period, 3 months or a year that people volunteer in a particular role. If you're as lucky as we are to have the likes of Grant it is a bonus," says Kate, "We're fortunate that we do have some longer-term volunteers, but the expectations of organisations should be not to have someone longer than a year. "
Organisations and people that provide opportunities for volunteers often feel a sense of guilt for not paying somebody. The fact is people that do volunteer see their time as a gift and don't expect money back.
"We as organisations or people that work with volunteers need to get over our own sense of guilt," Kate says. "Volunteers are doing it because they want to do it. They're doing it freely."
Take it from Scott and Grant who, together have been volunteering for over 5 years. Although it started as a pathway for employment or getting out and about for some exercise, the pair have seen many unexpected benefits. They’ve met an abundance of people, made some great friends and are part of an amazing volunteer community.
"It's allowed me to transfer my life skills to other people. I am Inspired by the quality of the people who volunteer and their range of abilities," says Grant. I am truly humbled by what other people are doing."
Grant is a volunteer of 2 years and spends 3 days of the working in the reception of Volunteer Central, a few days for New Zealand Rugby Museum and often puts his hand up for one off events.
"There's more laughter and noise coming from our office than the rest of the building," says Grant.
Scott was inspired to volunteer as a way of getting work but when 2020 sparked mandatory lockdowns, he wanted to do his part. When an Essential Well-Being role popped up, he applied at once. Scott supplied food, medicine, oxygen methods and rats test across the Mid Central Area.
"Every job I did was an instant goodie boost. Even from a simple smile, I got a happy psychological boost and so I took this into other volunteering areas," Scott says.
Volunteer or get involved at Volunteer Central (external link)
Volunteers time with Kate
Check out Volunteers time with Kate video transcript