VolFest, a new family festival that aims to celebrate volunteering and connect Tauranga locals with volunteering organisations, has secured a major partnership.

Event organiser Volunteering Bay of Plenty is thrilled to announce the Wright Family Foundation as VolFest 2020's presenting partner.

VolFest presented by Wright Family Foundation aims to educate Tauranga locals about the ways they can volunteer in a fun, festival atmosphere complete with live music, entertainment and food trucks. Bookings are being taken now from volunteering organisations keen to be involved.

CEO and co-founder of the Wright Family Foundation Chloe Wright sees the partnership as a natural fit.

The Wright Family Foundation is a not-for-profit registered charity with a vision of contributing to a healthy society built on family roots and education.

It offers long-term support to life-changing projects and organisations with education as their driver.

Many of these organisations rely on volunteers giving freely of their time and expertise.

Chloe says VolFest is the 'epitome” of what the Foundation stands for.

'VolFest is about bringing people together to do what their heart tells them they want to do. There is always a need for volunteers and everyone has a passion or talent they can offer.

"Volunteering is the ability to mentor others, form bonds and friendships, and be part of a community. And it's fun.”

Volunteering Bay of Plenty encourages all volunteering organisations to take part to educate locals on what they do, and how they can help.

'Volunteering is crucial to our community, there are many ways to volunteer and VolFest is our way to connect locals with causes that resonate with them, in a fun, festival atmosphere,” says Ron Scott, Chairman of Volunteering Bay of Plenty.

Several organisations have already signed up to take part in VolFest presented by the Wright Family Foundation including the Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust and Riding for the Disabled.

Bruce Fraser, acting chair of Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust, sees VolFest as an opportunity to highlight the work of the Trust and potentially recruit new volunteers.

'Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust - they turn up each month to work in the bush or make traps, they undertake all the background work like looking after the finances, sponsorship, communications, organisation and liaison with iwi, DOC and other important groups.

'We don't have any paid positions so without the mammoth ongoing efforts of many volunteers, we wouldn't be able to protect the kiwi, kōkako and other species in the untouched piece of bush that is the Ōtanewainuku Forest.” Elisha Olds, Manager of Riding for Disabled in Tauranga, is also thrilled to be part of VolFest.

'It's a great opportunity to exhibit our organisation and attract volunteers to be part of our team. It's exciting to have volunteers able to gather in one place to explore their volunteering options,”Elisha says.

VolFest presented by the Wright Family Foundation will be held on Saturday 4 April 2020 at the Historic Village, Tauranga. If you are a volunteer-based organisation and would like to be involved, email Lisa Ford at manager@volbop.org.nz or head to www.volfest.org for more information.