News

VOLUNTEER WELLINGTON BEGINS RESEARCH PROJECT

3 May 2005

Source:	Volunteer Wellington

Volunteer Wellington launched a comprehensive research project during Volunteer Awareness Week March 2005.

Entitled Volunteering and the needs of community organisations in our region, the objectives of the project are:

• To improve Volunteer Wellington's understanding of community organisation's in respect of capacity for and management of volunteers;
• To identify gaps which inhibit effective operations of community organisations.

The outcome will improve Volunteer Wellington's responsiveness to these needs.

Two experienced researchers, Louise Lee and Beth Houston, both lecturers at Massey University and both knowledgeable about and committed to the voluntary sector, will facilitate a series of focus groups with diverse groups from the community. The business/corporate sector will be included.

'Hearing what people have to say and building this into documented evidence, is our main aim,' said Louise Lee. 'There are many aspects of community organisations about which we need to know more. These include their capacity, their structures and expertise at different levels and the processes, policies and procedures they use and have in place.

'We also need to be more aware of what services they may require; for example management skills, good structures and procedures, training, ways of managing volunteers and ability to comply with legislation.'

All Volunteer Wellington community member organisations - and others - were invited to the focus group which launched this research project. This forum, attended by 24 people, was called Reveal the Gaps. Discussion were lively and insightful and the researchers were happy with how the event played out.

'We wanted to find out the main barriers and constraints for people working in the voluntary sector. We were also interested to know if Volunteer Wellington could help to bridge the gaps,' said Beth Houston. The research project will be conducted for most of 2005. In the coming weeks the focus group participants will be invited to comment on the analysis of the forum.

Volunteer Wellington is interested in any suggestions, ideas or networks which would make research about Volunteering and the needs of community organisations in our region, more inclusive - and ultimately of more value to everyone.

Telephone Julie Thomson or Pauline Harper for more information 499 4570.
Email vw@volunteerwellington.org.nz