Pause for a good cause
Volunteer Great Lake Taupō manager Julian Bishop prepares for Comavol this weekend. Photo: Dan Hutchinson
Community groups from across the district are joining forces this weekend to showcase the work they do.
By Dan Hutchinson
The Community and Volunteer Expo – COMAVOL - includes about 60 community groups and supporting agencies, at the Great Lake Centre on June 7, 10am-2pm.
It is the brainchild of Volunteer Great Lake Taupō manager Julian Bishop, who created VGLT after the Taupō Council of Social Services closed its doors a year ago after 30 years of representing local charities.
Bishop said it began as a rescue mission but has evolved into a “renaissance”.
The organisation has a new board of trustees, has secured charitable trust status and turned COMAVOL into an annual event that showcases the impact of community groups.
This weekend’s event will be followed by the Volunteer Service Awards in the afternoon, thanks to new sponsor Tremains.
"Last year, we weren't sure if Taupō would still have a volunteer centre. This year, we've never been busier," Bishop says.
This year’s Expo will eclipse last year's successful debut with more clubs, charities, and philanthropic entities than ever before.
Additionally, the popular Repair Café returns on June 28. The event is a collaboration with Bike Taupō, Taupō District Council, the Timebank Community Garden, Project Tongariro and VGLT.
Bishop says many people volunteer their time without even realising they are doing it, like mowing the neighbour’s lawn.
He says COMAVOL celebrates “every act of generosity, every shared event, and every meaningful contribution."
Collective action can achieve “transformative change” in the community, and he encourages anyone who is curious about opportunities for being involved or ways they can support the community to head along and find out a bit more about the various groups operating in the district.
There focus of the expo is not on fundraising going on but for people to find out what was happening in the community and for community groups to connect with some of the funding organisations.
There would be stalls hosted by community groups and Funders’ Lane for funding agencies.
“We've got Bay Trust, we've got Geyser, we've got Grassroots, we've got a real big swag of these funders that actually fund most of the impact that happens in our community.”
The expo will have a range of clubs too, for those wanting to find a way to connect with others socially or through a shared passion.
Keynote speakers include Taupō District councillor Christine Rankin, Volunteering New Zealand CEO Michelle Kitney and governance and fundraising advisor Megan Thorn from Exult.