THE St Vincent de Paul Society in parts of Western NSW is suffering a dwindling number of volunteers to support its charity and social advocacy work in the region.
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The society is hosting a forum for members at Dubbo on Saturday to discuss the organisation’s future vision.
St Vincent de Paul executive officer Ellen Sharp said on Friday grassroots members in the Castlereagh and Cudgegong areas would be able to be open about letting the society know how it can be relevant in the new world.
“We want our grassroots members to own the process. This can’t come from the head office. This is a changing world and we need to be in touch in a number of areas on how we serve the communities,” Mrs Sharp said.
She said many members were ageing and dwindling numbers of volunteers was creating a problem.
Vinnies would encourage a drive for new and younger volunteers to help its good work.
“We have to be more exciting and motivate a new generation of volunteers so we can honour the tradition and move forward,” Mrs Sharp said.
Members from Dubbo, Wellington, Mudgee, Gilgandra and Gulgong branches would discuss the future vision.
“There are many challenges for our members and opportunities so we can support our wonderful ongoing work and it’s important to engage with them and get new and fresh ideas,” Mrs Sharp said.
The society’s mission includes actively and passionately speaking out against the causes of poverty and inequality on behalf of the people it serves.
Besides fundraising activities, charity work and operating opportunity shops, it acts as an advocate on a wide range of issues including low-income support, housing, health and Indigenous matters, children and education.
Mrs Sharp said she would be open to hearing new ideas about how the charity would serve the two areas.
“I really want to grow our presence in the central west and western plains. We will talk about our care and support arms as well,” Mrs Sharp said.
The charity in the Wellington and Dubbo region serves many people at its shops, from selling clothes to helping the homeless and seniors to pay their electricity bills, and with the onset of winter these issues will be at the forefront of discussions at the forum.
The forum is at the Dubbo RSL from 10.30am on Saturday.
