Leaders network to celebrate volunteer week

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This week is National Week of the Volunteer and to celebrate Volunteering Geelong will host an event for the Geelong Volunteer Leaders Network on Thursday.

Chaired by Volunteering Geelong, the Geelong Volunteer Leaders Network is made up of more than 160 agencies across the region who champion volunteers and volunteering.

Now in its fifth consecutive year, the event, held during Volunteer Week, recognises and celebrates the significant contribution of volunteers across the Geelong region, and inspires others to get involved in causes they are passionate about.

Volunteering Geelong chief executive Helen Hunter said under this year’s Volunteer Week theme, Better Together, the event would celebrate the strong leadership shown within Geelong’s volunteer involving organisations.

“Every day volunteers are out and about in the community providing essential support across the region. That’s why we want to say thank you at the appreciation event on Thursday, May 19 at Eastern Hub between 1-3pm,” she said.

“It will be a wonderful opportunity to thank volunteers from across the Geelong region for their continued resilience, passion and drive to give back to their community.

“During the event, we will also hear from volunteer leaders and volunteers on our shared need to adapt, innovate and inspire during the COVID-19 response and recovery stages.”

During the pandemic Geelong, community-based organisations turned their attention to support volunteers who had put up their hands to help individuals within their local communities in support of the required response and recovery of COVID-19.

Ms Hunter said agencies and their leaders harnessed the energy and willingness of volunteers to work with the most vulnerable communities to ensure equity of access to support services.

The Volunteer Week event is funded by City of Greater Geelong Connected Community COVID Recovery Grant Program.