The Tamworth region has 650 community groups and organisations that support a range of community services, activities, facilities, events, issues and venues.
Over 14% of our population (7000) are active in community groups. Another 5,000 (10%) contribute some form of voluntary service at least once a year.
Local groups run sporting competitions. They plan, host and run festivals and facilities or manage crown lands and reserves. Some groups such as the Chamber of Commerce provide business support and networking to local small business operators.
Other local groups including SES, Lions, Rotary and St Johns Ambulance support community events by providing volunteers to raise money for charities, assist with traffic control and parking and catering. These groups also get behind families and individuals suffering hardship.
In Tamworth each year the city honours those who give their time and efforts to others. It’s called the Gift of Time and in 2009 it recognised 109 organisations who had contributed 503,000 volunteer hours.
Many of these community organisations are not-for-profit and rely on volunteers. Other services provided to the community include child care, education, cultural, outdoors and sporting activities, social and service clubs, heritage and history, health, religious, social and youth activities.
In Tamworth each year the city honours those who give their time and efforts to others. It’s called the Gift of Time and in 2009 it recognised 109 organisations who had contributed 503,000 volunteer hours.
The council also supports community partnerships that extend services to a wider population and provides other community programs, many of those under 45 different committees. These Section 355 committees, the largest number of any council in the state, are a direct line for communication and liaison and importantly provide more facilities for residents. These committees preside over many areas of service delivery, including halls, reserves, events, community facilities and economic development strategies such as beautification programs.
Tamworth is a friendly, enterprising and caring city – and that’s not just in the minds of the locals. It’s become a brand. Tamworth has won the Friendly Towns state award a number of times over the past few years and in 2009 won the national Tidy Towns overall award for its civic, community and corporate partnerships.
