This year’s Annual Report reflects very clearly what a milestone year it was for Volunteering Hawke’s Bay in its growth and development.
The Report illustrates the impact of COVID on the volunteer sector and how volunteering, in general, has had to change to meet the straitened needs of our community.
The world changed and with it came, for us, a need to have a heightened and more focused approach to best deliver our services to our already over-stretched community stakeholders.
This was achieved through recognising opportunities and doing things differently; and greater collaboration and communication with the Government agencies, funders and stakeholders who support our community.
Financially and operationally, we are now a much stronger and more resilient organisation, able to better withstand the continuing adverse conditions ominously present.
That speaks volumes for the passion, commitment and communication our manager has brought to the role in the past year. My thanks go to Leanne, and her team of volunteers, our contractors; and our board members for the effort and commitment that has resulted in this year’s positive report.
Grateful thanks also to our funders who have helped provide us with the financial resilience and support required to achieve this year’s result.
Ken Simons
Chair (acting)