Volunteers need help

Press, 21 December 1976, Page 17

Volunteers need help

The Community Volunteers Scheme would fold up if Government assistance was withdrawn, said the organisation’s national co-ordinator in Christchurch. Mr Alvin Arnold was speaking at the annual meeting of the Christchurch branch of Community Volunteers.

“We are a non-profit making organisation and we are suffering like all other such the Government it wanted to organisations,” said Mr Arnold.

“We are dependent on Government support at this point and this support has been a major factor in our growth. “If we were not able to get any Government assistance next year we would be crippled,” he said.

“We know 1977 will be a difficult year and we intend to put a comprehensive case to the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Walker).” But while the organisation was still very dependent on become more financially independent, said Mr Arnold. “We must set a goal of becoming a self-reliant organisation,” he said. The Christchurch branch of

the organisation lias dropped plans to have community volunteers in three city high schools, because of restricted finance.

The co-ordinator of the Christchurch branch (Mr Alex Clark), said the Christchurch Metropolitan Grants Committee had decided not to give the organisation assistance this year. The branch budgeted for an income of $lO,OOO and received only $3OOO. Mr Clark said the Christchurch branch had now become a public organisation, and any member of the public could join by paying a subscription of $2. These subscriptions would help raise the organisation’s income. Commenting on the work of the organisation on a national level, Mr Arnold said there was a need to work towards self help in the community.

“We must try not to have preconceived ideas of what the community needs. “Volunteers must respond to the community’s needs as they arise.”

Mr Arnold said community volunteers also had a responsibility to educate the community at large.