Trusts to work as a team on volunteer aims

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SPORT Whanganui will combine with the other regional sports trusts in the central lower North Island to develop ideas to get the best performances out of people who give their time to volunteering in sport.

The partnership is being funded by the Lion Foundation, in what Sport Whanganui says is the first time the charitable trust has funded a joint project in sports and recreation.

The local body will work with their RST offsiders at Sport Wellington, Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti, Sport Hawke's Bay, Sport Manawatu and Sport Taranaki.

Each sports trust will develop their own local volunteer initiatives, then exchange those resources including their research and information.

The idea is to promote "best practice and innovation in sport volunteerism", says the press release.

Sport Whanganui feels that more than ever, volunteers make up a key part of what is essentially a sport and recreation "workforce".

Their time is calculated to have an economic value of $728 million, based on Consumer Price Index figures from 2009.

"There continues to be a shortage of skilled people in the right roles, or skilled people having a thorough understanding of what's expected of them," said the release.

"This project is about RSTs, sports organisations and schools planning and collaborating more effectively."

Based on participation rates in sport, the RSTs feel this project will reach up to 800,000 people.

"The project will lead to growth of regional volunteerism, greater recognition and status in regional sports volunteerism, and a sustainable approach to the volunteer process taken by regional sporting organisations," said Sport Whanganui chief executive Danny Jonas.

"Sport Whanganui is proud to work with The Lion Foundation and collaborate with other RSTs on such an important project.

"[The foundation] has provided an opportunity to make a significant difference to the sporting system across a number of regions."