The Simpson and District Community Centre Inc in has received a funding boost from the Brumby Government to introduce new people to volunteering and to train and support them to get more involved in the community.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney announced today that the Simpson and District Community Centre Inc had received $3,260 from the latest round of Victorian Volunteer Small Grants.
She said the organisation had received the grant for its Skills Training for Volunteers Project.
The Community Centre will provide training to better equip current and new volunteers in their roles. The training will include:
• First Aid,
• Food Handling and
• Computer skills.
In a small rural community like Simpson the volunteers are a life line and it is imperative that they are provided with training to better enable them in their roles.
“Not only does the community benefit from volunteering, research shows that people who volunteer reap rewards such as improved health and wellbeing, and better employment opportunities,” Ms Tierney said.
“It’s no exaggeration to say many of our most important local organisations, events and services would simply cease to function if volunteers stopped giving their time.”
It is one of 42 new projects to share in $118,161 of Victorian Volunteer Small Grants (VVSG) announced this month. The funding is aimed at helping organisations recruit and train volunteers.
The VVSG program is part of a $21 million support package for volunteering and community enterprises and the Brumby Government will invest a further $6 million over the next four years to help people get involved and increase support for volunteers.
Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor said the lives of people in communities across Victoria were touched daily by the efforts of volunteers who gave their time to help others.
“The Brumby Government is taking action now to make our communities more liveable and ensure all Victorian have a chance to participate in community activities,’ Mr Batchelor said.
“From coaching kids’ sports teams to teaching older people to use the internet or running a local support group, volunteers play an important role in building stronger communities.”
Since 2004, almost 1100 organisations have been funded through the Victorian Volunteer Small grants, with a total of almost $3.3 million across Victoria to support and attract volunteers.
The Victorian Volunteer Small Grants are open to applications. For details visit www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/grants