Final Days to Nominate Western Bay’s Volunteers

Final Days to Nominate Western Bay’s Volunteers

Local community groups have just a few more days to ensure they are part of the Western Bay of Plenty region’s biggest celebration of voluntary groups.

Nominations for the TrustPower Western Bay of Plenty Community Awards are closing at 5pm on Friday 20 May. The Awards, run in conjunction with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, recognise and reward voluntary groups and organisations for the outstanding contribution they make to their community.

Typically, TrustPower and the Council receive around 40-50 nominations for the TrustPower Western Bay of Plenty Community Awards.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Suzi Luff believes there are many groups out there still not being recognised through the Awards because they are not being nominated.

“Volunteers in the Western Bay of Plenty region provide a lot of services, activities, support and events in the community and often they are not recognised for the invaluable work they do.

We know that there are thousands of volunteers in and around the Western Bay of Plenty region working hard to keep the community thriving and often this is on top of family and work commitments too. Now we turn to the community to ask that they say ‘thanks’ to local voluntary groups by nominating them for the TrustPower Western Bay of Plenty District Community Awards.

It takes five minutes to make a nomination but it will make a real difference to the volunteers you are recognising, “says Miss Luff.

“Let’s celebrate their amazing efforts,” she says.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson urges people to support and celebrate the community’s volunteers by nominating local voluntary groups for the TrustPower Community Awards.

“We have so many fantastic people in the Western Bay beavering away behind the scenes giving of their time, energy and commitment to so many causes. These people don’t seek publicity or the limelight but too often they remain in the shadows.

This is an opportunity for their light to shine. The TrustPower Community Awards are the perfect stage for our volunteers to be recognised and appreciated by our community,” says Mayor Paterson.

Anyone can nominate a group or organisation for the TrustPower Western Bay of Plenty Community Awards – voluntary groups and organisations can even nominate themselves. But act now because nominations close on Friday 20 May.

Nomination Forms for the TrustPower Community Awards are available from the Council offices or service centres or can be downloaded from www.trustpower.co.nz/communitycentre. Nomination Forms can also be received by calling Suzi Luff at TrustPower on 0800 87 11 11.

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 Supreme Winner receives $1,500 and the opportunity to attend, at no cost, the National Community Awards being held in Ashburton in March 2012.

The Awards will be presented at a function on Monday 27 June.

ENDS

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