Trustpower Community Awards open

Entries for the annual Trustpower Invercargill Southland Community Awards are open, giving Invercargill and Southland residents  the opportunity to recognise the efforts of local voluntary groups.

The awards, which are run in partnership with the Invercargill City Council and the Southland District Council, are open to all voluntary groups and organisations working to make the region a better place to live.

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt said entering groups for the awards not only acknowledged volunteers, it also provided the opportunity to learn about the wonderful projects being undertaken in our communities.

Last year 69 entries were received for the Trustpower Invercargill Southland Community Awards. Trustpower Community Relations Representative Alice Boyd believes there are still many more voluntary groups out there who deserve recognition. “Now you have the chance to say ‘thank you’ to these volunteers who work hard to improve the community – just by filling out an entry form,” she said. “It takes just a few minutes of your time to enter a voluntary group but it will make a real impact to the volunteers you are recognising.”

There are five categories:

  • Heritage and Environment
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Arts and Culture
  • Sport and Leisure
  • Educational and Child/Youth Development

Category winners receive $500, runners-up receive $250 and the Supreme Winner will take home $1,500 and an all-expenses paid trip to the 2017 Trustpower National Community Awards. Last year’s Trustpower Invercargill Southland Community Awards Supreme Winner was Koha Kai.

Entry forms for the Trustpower Community Awards are available from the Council offices or service centres or can be completed online at www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards. Entry forms can also be received by calling Alice Boyd on 0800 871 111 ext 4176. Entries close at 5pm on Friday 4 August 2017.