Wairarapa centre vital for volunteers

Thirteen not-for-profit organisations are already based at the present community centre, pictured, on Perry St in Masterton.

A volunteer services centre is a necessity for Wairarapa, according to the Wairarapa Community Centre Trust.

"A recent survey and community networking have indicated a need for a Wairarapa Volunteer centre within our area," the trust said in a submission to Carterton District Council.

"The roles of this new service will be to promote volunteering in our community, provide information on all aspects of volunteering, to provide a referral service for registered organisations and support volunteers and not-for-profit organisations.

"This service will be free to all agencies who register with us."

The Wairarapa Community Centre trustees want to set up the new service under the same governance board as the community centre trust.

Thirteen not-for-profit organisations are already based at the community centre on Perry St in Masterton - the trust wants the new service to be located in a "central" building in Masterton, with an outreach office in Carterton.

The annual operations cost of a volunteer centre would be about $24,000 with an initial set-up cost of about $10,000.

The trust proposed a contribution of $5000 from CDC and said it had made similar approaches to the two other councils and community funding agencies.

"These funds will ensure this venture can be achievable and viable for the benefit to individuals, groups/agencies and our wider community."