73 days ago

CAB Facing Funding Cuts

Jill Smith from Citizens Advice Bureau Far North (CAB)

Most volunteers feel uncomfortable when they are asked by funders to put a dollar value on the work they happily donate to help improve their communities.

The fact is, we now live in an era when all volunteer groups applying for funding are asked to quantify their voluntary community service in dollar terms.

Well, CAB North Shore has done just that. It commissioned the services of a research company that concluded the Bureau's social return on investment was $13.20 for every dollar invested. That return could be safely used by every Bureau throughout NZ.

Many of us volunteers understand the REAL value of the service we provide. We see it or hear it after we've discussed an issue with a client. It usually goes something like this - "I don't know whether you can help me.........." to a "Thank you. I never thought of that" or "I don't know what we'd do without you".

Back to that REAL value again. It doesn't look anywhere near as attractive on a funding application as the cold hard reality of the dollar return on investment.

So this is where you come in. At a time when our workloads are increasing and becoming more complex, the Citizens Advice Bureau NZ is facing funding cuts. The funding future of many Bureaus is at risk.

To secure a sustainable future, we would appreciate it if you contacted Grant McCallum MP at Grant.McCallum@parliament.govt.nz. Mayor Moko Tepania at mayor@fndc.govt.nz and Bay of Islands - Whangaroa Community Board at belinda.ward@fndc.govt.nz. Please let them know the value you place on the services offered by our awesome volunteers at Citizens Advice Bureau Far North and respectfully ask them to sustainably fund us so that we can keep delivering our valuable service.
Thank you.

More messages from your neighbours
20 hours ago

Poll: How should Guy Fawkes be celebrated?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

While it is a fun occasion, fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night has caused much conflict over the years, upsetting our pets and disrupting the sleep of neighbours.

How should we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.

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How should Guy Fawkes be celebrated?
  • 28% With a city-wide public fireworks display
    28% Complete
  • 21.3% Small fireworks displays in each community
    21.3% Complete
  • 7.5% Keep it as is
    7.5% Complete
  • 31.5% We shouldn't celebrate it!
    31.5% Complete
  • 11.2% Anything but fireworks
    11.2% Complete
  • 0.5% Other - I'll share below
    0.5% Complete
987 votes
9 hours ago

Winner winner!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Congratulations to the winners of our $100 Mitre10 vouchers:

Justine Terrill from Mount Albert

Suzette Gibson from Nelson

Soumya Manoj from Lower Hutt

Millie George from Richmond Hill

If you're a winner, get in touch here.

Not a winner this week? There's always next week!

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9 hours ago

Solve This Riddle or Be Left Scratching Your Head!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

With pointed fangs, I sit and wait;
with piercing force, I crunch out fate.
I grab victims, proclaiming might,
and physically join with a single bite.
What am I?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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