New organization planned to support volunteer base in Peel
By Bill Rea

Volunteers are crucial to the operation of a community like Caledon, but there are concerns over the ability of groups to recruit the necessary people.

United Way of Peel Region recently updated Town councillors on efforts to address the problem.

United Way conducted a review on volunteerism in the region about a year ago, after the Volunteer Centre of Peel ceased operations, according to Shelley White, CAO of United Way of Peel Region. She said it was prompted by growing concerns about the challenges non-profit groups were facing in getting volunteers to come forward.

The result, she said, was a plan based on a bestpractices model to set up a new organization to provide community-wide support to volunteers and organizations that use their services.

Consultant John Huether addressed council in support of creating the new organization, commenting the review was very involved, including 13 focus groups with volunteers and co-ordinators. Two of those sessions were held in Caledon, and involved such groups as Caledon Community Services, Caledon Parent-Child Centre and Meals on Wheels.

He added other jurisdictions all over Canada were consulted too, along with experts in the volunteer support field.

The result was the idea to create a Peel-wide organization. "We'll have to come up with a creative name," he remarked.

Huether said this group will promote volunteerism, both regionally and locally. As well, it will promote the value to the community of volunteers. It will also try to inform about the volunteer opportunities that are available in various fields, like sports, arts, etc.

This association will also target various demographic groups, such as immigrants, youth, young entrepreneurs, recently retired people, etc. As well, Huether pointed to the need to pay attention to what motivates people to volunteer, along with volunteer training.

Huether said the plan is to set up this organization over three years, and a steering committee will be established. They will also be seeking sponsorship. In the next six months, they hope to have the support of the three area municipalities, as well as hire a staff leader.

The new group has a business plan and budget, and Huether said he was asking council a $5,000 grant to help with the operation in the first year. He added they will be seeking annual contributions, but only after the new organization has demonstrated its effectiveness in providing a focal point for volunteerism and civic engagement.

Councillor Annette Groves observed there's been a decline in the number of people volunteering.

"That's actually disheartening," she remarked. "Volunteers are the glue that holds the community together."

She commended the efforts to set up this Peelwide group, stressing the need for volunteers. She also pointed out high school students are going to need to compile their community service hours, and this organization could be a good way to encourage them. Groves pointed out there are many students who might not know where to go to get their needed hours.

"Volunteerism is quite important to our community," Councillor Richard Paterak observed. "The Town is a consumer of volunteers."

Councillor Allan Thompson also commented on the contribution of volunteers, expressing surprise at the number of people he's seen out to plant trees, etc. He also expressed concern at the possibility of burn out.

In addition, he wondered if a group like this would be as much benefit to Caledon as it would to Brampton or Mississauga. "Sell me on it," he urged.

Huether said the message they got from the focus groups was there is a strong volunteer presence, as well as the strong fear of burn out. Groups need stronger infrastructure to support their volunteer base, and he added Caledon can benefit from that. "It will gain from a strengthened effort to recruit volunteers," he remarked.

Councillor Richard Whitehead asked Huether if they had determined what went wrong with the Volunteer Centre of Peel. Huether said there were some unique circumstances at work there, along with factors such as a lack of diversity of funding and not using up-to-date technology. Whitehead added the Volunteer Centre seemed to be driven by the fact 95 per cent of Peel's demographics are in Brampton and Mississauga. "We were like Pluto," he remarked.

Huether assured Whitehead they are looking for broad-based involvement, and that includes Caledon. He added they want Caledon represented on the steering committee.

There were also some concerns about the funding request. Whitehead noted the organization is slated to cost $191,000 to operate this year. Huether told him $75,000 of that is to come from the United Way of Peel Region, and the Region itself is putting up another $50,000. Caledon is being asked to contribute $5,000, and Brampton and Mississauga are going to be asked to put up $20,000. He added the Town will likely be asked for something like $12,000 in subsequent years. Whitehead argued Caledon taxpayers should only have to provide seed funding, not pay for the operation of such a social service for more than a couple of years. He added he would make those points again when council finalizes the Town's budget.

White said she heard Whitehead, but asked council to look at this as an "investment in building the quality of life I know you value in the Town of Caledon."