90 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
4 hours ago

Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.

When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?

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Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
  • 81.7% Yes
    81.7% Complete
  • 17% No
    17% Complete
  • 1.3% Other - I'll share below
    1.3% Complete
224 votes
13 hours ago

Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

This belongs to you, but everyone else uses it.

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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3 days ago

What's your favourite tomato recipe?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.

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