New Volunteer Quarters at Orokonui

30 Aug 2019

Funding Stories

Otago Community Trust was pleased to award a $10,000 grant to Orokonui Ecosanctuary in November last year to help them with the purchase and installation of a 40-foot modified container for their new volunteer headquarters.  Orokonui have up to and sometimes more than 100 volunteers to coordinate and they needed a dedicated base to rest and refuel out of the weather, to dry wet gear, to store equipment and also provide office space for their Volunteer Coordinator. 

The creation of a dedicated volunteer quarters is part of a wider strategy to optimise the volunteer programme at Orokonui. This has included the establishment of a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator role; reviewing and improving recruitment, induction and training processes; developing a calendar of volunteer tasks and skills required and using this to recruit against; publishing a volunteer newsletter; and developing a calendar of social activities for volunteers.

It is great to hear via the accountability report submitted by Orokonui that their volunteers now feel valued and acknowledged, and have a sense of pride, which supports their long-term participation and satisfaction. What is equally pleasing to see from a funder's perspective is that this wider strategy has yielding benefits for Orokonui, with recruitment now more strategic and effective, volunteers have more formal input into the planning and work programme, and the team are developing volunteer leadership roles to better manage increased demand for corporate and large group volunteer opportunities.