Voluntary work left untouched

Press, 30 March 1989, Page 15

Voluntary work left untouched

By

SUZANNE KEEN

Unemployed people have shown no interest in a voluntary work scheme started about four months ago by the Waimairi District Council.

The council Access training co-ordinator, Mr Dave Rogers, said that in spite of advertising the scheme with notices at the departments of Labour and Social Welfare, the Bishopdale Community Centre and a number of shops, he had received no inquiries from unemployed people. “Comhelp” (Community Help Programme) was aimed at involving the unemployed in doing voluntary work, such as gardening, cleaning windows and trimming trees, for elderly people or those on sickness benefits who could not help themselves.

Mr Rogers said he had been telephoned by about six elderly people with work they would like to have done through the scheme.

“I am quite surprised we have not heard from any unemployed. There was a letter sent to the Department of Labour at Papanui last year from some unemployed people saying they were not dole bludgers and would be willing to work if someone gave them something to do.”

Mr Rogers said the council might have chosen the wrong time to launch the scheme, just before Christmas, because people were generally busy with other projects at this time. It might need to be advertised more widely, he said.

Community groups in other areas had investigated similar schemes, and Waimairi might look at co-ordinating some type of programme with them.

“We could get a com-munity-minded church involved. Someone involved in the community like that would know who needed work done,” Mr Rogers said.

It is the second time in recent months that Waimairi’s attempts to help the unemployed have been frustrated. Earlier this month, the council learned that the Canterbury Regional Employment and Access council had cut funding for four out of five of its Access courses.

Mr Rogers said he had reapplied for funding, but had been turned down again.

The council was now investigating the possibility of beginning a computer course in data entry and another in drainlaying, bricklaying, or a similar skill.

Waimairi has also decided to take part in the Government’s Restart programme.

It would like to employ seven people, mainly for building adventure playground equipment for its parks and reserves. If approved, the project would begin in May and provide work for about 30 weeks.