Blow the trumpet of a voluntary group near you

1 March 2013

Blow the trumpet of a voluntary group near you

Locals have just a few more days to ensure their favourite voluntary groups are part of the Bay’s biggest celebration of volunteers. Entries for the TrustPower Western Bay of Plenty Community Awards and TrustPower Tauranga Community Awards close at 5pm on Friday 15 March and there is more than $10,000 up for grabs.

The TrustPower Community Awards, run in partnership with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and The Tauranga City Council respectively, recognise and reward voluntary groups and organisations for the outstanding contribution they make to their community.

Last year Tauranga received 56 entries for the Community Awards and Western Bay of Plenty received 43 entries. This year however, entries are very slow to come in.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge believes there are still many groups providing services, activities, support and events in the community and often they are not recognised for the invaluable work they do.

“Volunteers dedicate thousands of hours to the community. We must remember that volunteers fundraise, they build and preserve things and they host events. They coordinate health support groups and they teach new skills and sports and then there are others who will even save your life and property if they need to.

These Awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise and honour some of the districts hardworking and generous volunteers and it means we get the chance to share with the community all the wonderful things that this district’s volunteers are doing for the benefit of many.

Now it’s your chance to say ‘thanks’ to these volunteers who work hard for your community by entering them in the TrustPower Community Awards. It only takes a few minutes to enter a voluntary group but it will make a real difference to the volunteers you are recognising,” says Mrs Partridge.

Anyone can enter a group or organisation for the TrustPower Community Awards – voluntary groups and organisations can even enter themselves. But act now because entries close on Friday 15 March.

The Awards cover five categories; Heritage and Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport and Leisure, and Educational and Child/Youth Development. The category winners receive $500 and runners up take home $250. The Overall Winner receives $1,500 and the opportunity to attend, at no cost, the National Community Awards. Last year’s Supreme Winner for Tauranga was Age Concern and for Western Bay of Plenty it was Pirirakau Incorporated Society.

Entry Forms for the TrustPower Community Awards are available from the Council offices or service centre, they can be completed online at www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards, or you can call Community Relations on 0800 87 11 11.

The TrustPower Western Bay of Plenty Community Awards will be presented at a function at Fairview Estate in Katikati on Monday 29 April and the Tauranga Community Awards will be presented at a function at the ASB Arena on Monday 13 May.

ENDS

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