The 5 Aspects of a Strong Volunteer Program
Building a volunteer program isn’t easy, but it may be simpler than you might think. There are five key aspects of a strong volunteer program:...
2 min read
Margaret McLachlan - Communications Manager, Volunteering New Zealand : Nov 8, 2023 8:00:00 AM
The Big Shout-Out was a campaign conceived by Volunteering New Zealand to give a ‘shout-out of thanks’ to volunteers. It ran nationwide throughout June 2023, to thank and recognise the immense contribution of volunteers.
The Big Shout-Out was a ‘Kiwi’ spin on the Big Help Out, part of King Charles the Third’s coronation in the United Kingdom, which asked people to volunteer in their communities.
New Zealand has not seen the same decline in participation numbers across volunteering as the UK and Australia post-Covid. In fact, we experienced some incredible generosity by volunteers and communities in the aftermath of cyclones and flooding affecting several regions of the North Island in early 2023. This was in addition to the response from community organisations addressing the social and environmental effects of Covid-19.
Rather than asking people to volunteer more, we wanted to run a campaign to thank and recognise volunteers.
We used this key message in our communication to help raise awareness of the work of volunteers throughout society and to encourage recognition.
“New Zealand is a nation of volunteers - more than a million of us volunteer, giving our time and energy to make a difference in our communities. 90% of community organisations are entirely volunteer-run and without their support, much vital work wouldn’t happen. Volunteers are first responders in emergencies, working to conserve natural environments, and supporting vulnerable people in the community.
It’s time to recognise and thank volunteers – to give them a shout-out on social media or shout them morning tea!”
The Big Shout-Out campaign included these elements:
This logo was developed for the campaign. It is in the style of a cartoon speech bubble and with 3-D and action elements. The retro font and cursive style lends it a hand-written quality. It uses the universal red colour of volunteering. Non-dated, it can be used in future years.
We did this campaign in collaboration, and with funding from, the Department of Internal Affairs and the Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector. Volunteering New Zealand provided our expertise in running campaigns, such as National Volunteer Week, and connections with our members and volunteer centres.
The Big Shout-out campaign achieved a wide reach via social media, radio advertising, media articles, and events. It was positive and celebratory – thanking volunteers for all that they do. We had comments that people were inspired to volunteer more, prompted by the campaign. We intend to make it an annual event, building on the momentum of the inaugural campaign.
All our templates and resources are freely available on our National Volunteer Week website. Anyone interested in learning more about the campaign can contact Volunteering New Zealand at: office@volunteeringnz.org.nz
Building a volunteer program isn’t easy, but it may be simpler than you might think. There are five key aspects of a strong volunteer program:...
Introduction There are some truly remarkable people in this world; you’ll probably know a few through your own personal and professional experiences....
Dedicated volunteers give your nonprofit the momentum to move its mission forward. With their time, talents, and energy, your volunteers help you...