A BASSENDEAN charity has won the WA Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year Award for providing recycled sports equipment in remote communities.
Fair Game Australia was recognised at the Volunteer of the Year Awards on May 22.
The health promotion and community development charity, founded in 2010, delivers equipment, and health education and fitness programs, to young people in need.
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More than 200 volunteers help increase access to healthy lifestyle choices through programs designed by healthcare professionals to reduce the risk of lifestyle-related disease, build social cohesion and improve mental well-being.
Chief executive Nicki Bardwell said the charity was thrilled to have won the award.
“Our volunteers are the backbone of the organisation, delivering all our programs,” she said.
“It is their passion, dedication and enthusiasm that make our programs so effective.
“In 2018 we recycled over 6500 pieces of pre-loved sports equipment and had over 5000 participants in our programs.”
Ms Bardwell said they were always looking for people to become volunteers, who were trained before starting work.
“We are currently accepting applications for volunteers to join Fair Game for our next training session which will be in July,” she said.
“We are also increasing the number of locations for our blue recycling bins across Perth to collect pre-loved sports equipment through partnerships with local government areas, sporting clubs and other organisations.”
Chairperson Matt Scanlon said the charity provided an opportunity for the next generation of leaders to witness the issues remote communities faced every day.
“This nurtures a sense of purpose and belonging and creates powerful advocates for change,” he said.
“I believe this is the real value of volunteering.”
For information, visit www.fairgame.org.au.