Ellen Ramsay: Policies need to boost the work of volunteers

The Government needs to value the enormous contributions the voluntary sector makes to the welfare of many New Zealanders, by developing policies that support this work, not hinder it.

According to a study by the Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations and PricewaterhouseCoopers, the estimated value of volunteers has been calculated to be worth at least $120 million.

The study was based on an "if they were paid" scenario of 10 national welfare organisations. This is only a drop in the ocean in terms of the true value of the work that volunteers do in their communities.

New Zealanders devote approximately 250 million hours per year to unpaid voluntary work for community organisations. This has an estimated value of $2 billion.

It would be difficult to accurately calculate the exact value of volunteering in the economic equation, but it is significant.

Volunteers care for the elderly, sick and disabled. They assist at schools, deliver meals-on-wheels and even donate their blood.

They coordinate, support, organise and fund raise for a multitude of causes. They patrol beaches, protect wildlife, coach sports, search for and rescue people and fight fires.

They willingly commit countless hours of dedicated effort towards preserving and protecting our environment.

Just imagine the gaps in our emergency services, and the impact on our tourism industry, without the input of skilled and committed volunteers.

As economic necessity forces women, who are traditionally more likely than men to be involved in voluntary work, into paid work, there is increasing pressure on the Government to address the gaping holes in social services in communities, particularly rural communities.

Where travel is required to deliver support and assistance in rural areas, the associated costs and time involved are making it economically too hard for volunteers to continue.

Over time numerous services have evolved from a voluntary response to a social need.

In the health sector, the Cancer Society, Plunket, the Heart Foundation, the disability sector and hospices are but some of the many groups dependent on a colossal voluntary contribution to enable them to make a significant difference to the lives of many New Zealanders.

Every sports code relies on an army of volunteers for its survival and there is evidence that some groups are struggling to keep going.

Coaches, trainers, managers, administrators and supporters are the life-blood of sport. Without their commitment, hundreds of young people would not get the opportunity to be involved and the obesity epidemic would escalate.

Imagine the pressure on already over-burdened teachers, without the support of parents and others, including grand-parents.

From pre-school to tertiary level, New Zealand's education system is reliant on volunteers.

Should the Government push for greater productivity, by having more women in the paid workforce become a reality, where are future volunteers going to come from ?

The Government talks a lot about developing social capital in New Zealand and must understand clearly that volunteering is its essential component.

Pat Hanley, President of the New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations, defines social capital as the collective resources built up when we interact with other people outside our families. It includes trust, cooperative behaviours, helpful networks and willingness to give and take and participate in issues of common concern. It is generated by voluntary association and cannot be bought or sold, only shared.

Currently two Government proposals are giving the voluntary sector cause for concern. They are the Charities Bill and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority Review of Domestic Food Regulation.

These must be thoroughly scrutinised for their impact on the voluntary sector.

Any attempts by the Government to restrict the ability of this sector to continue its valuable work must be opposed.

* Ellen Ramsay is a freelance journalist and former president of Rural Women New Zealand.