Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is supporting the Conservation Work Skills (CWS) programme providing work experience opportunities for ten volunteers at the Taumarunui Resource Recovery Centre.
Developed as a partnership between MSD and Conservation Volunteers New Zealand the CWS programme helps people develop skills to get back into the workforce while encouraging involvement and education in conservation.
Executive Manager Community & Economic Development Pauline Welch said that the ethos of the CWS programme was an excellent fit for Council's community and environmental wellbeing objectives.
“Under the Local Government Act Council is required to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of our communities.
In support of this we have developed a 'Wellbeing Framework' that provides key values to underpin our decision making and our journey of giving effect to the principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi.
Our involvement with the CWS programme delivers against our Wellbeing Framework values of Kaitiakitanga/Guardianship and responsibilities to the environment and Rangatiratanga/Enabling Others to have self-determination,” she said.
Sustainability and Resource Centre Recovery Manager Emily Jasmine said that CWS programme volunteers were making a significant contribution to the Resource Recovery Centre alongside our regular volunteers.
“The Resource Recovery Centre would not have achieved what it has over the last two years without volunteer support, and we are very happy to have the CWS programme volunteers helping us with our mahi for two days a week for the next two months.
The kaupapa of the Taumarunui Resource Recovery Centre of providing meaningful volunteering and employment experience alongside community environmental education is a perfect fit to that of the CWS programme.
While the CWS programme volunteers are with us we hope to see them pick-up some practical and transferable skills that will help provide them with opportunities to gain paid employment,” she said.
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