Funding deal for Bognor volunteer centre signed

The agreement guarantees money for the centre, in the town hall, for the next five years. The centre, together with its counterpart at Littlehampton, costs a total of 26,000 a year to run.

It is hoped the investment until 2013 will allow the centres to attract and retain more volunteers. The average number of adult helpers has stayed static in the past three years, while the average amount of time given has decreased.

Derek Moore CBE, who co-ordinates the running of centres, said: "This is fantastic news for the centre and for volunteering in general.

"We can now concentrate on offering volunteers the support they deserve to encourage them to carry on volunteering. We will also be able to work on recruiting new volunteers to take on what is an extremely rewarding role at the centre of the community."

A signing ceremony on Mondaysealed the agreement which is jointly funded by Arun and West Sussex councils and West Sussex NHS Primary Care Trust.

The centres provide a vital community service by helping volunteers find suitable placements as well as finding candidates to help clubs and societies run their activities and services.

Arun leader Cllr Gill Brown said: "We are delighted to support this service as it will bring much-needed stability to the volunteering community in Arun.

"It ensures that the amazing work of volunteers will now be secured for the next five years and that they will get the kind of support they have long been craving."

Under the agreement, the county council will pay 13,100 a year and the trust 2,500 to leave Arun to find the remaining 10,600.

Cllr Henry Smith, the county council's leader, said he believed the centres were an important part of the community.

Similar deals have been reached in every district and borough council area across the county.

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