Petrol Vouchers for Volunteers
27 April 2009 at 3:24 pm
BP Australia has launched a Vouchers for Volunteers program to provide $250,000 worth of free fuel to volunteers across Australia in order to help ease the financial burden associated with volunteering.
Individuals who volunteer for a Not for Profit organisation and use a vehicle in the process of volunteering and who meet the entry criteria are asked to apply for BP fuel cards via: www.talkstoppedlongago.com.au.
Successful applicants will be chosen based on their individual volunteering story and their adherence to the entry criteria. BP will choose the amount of free fuel each successful applicant will receive. Applications close at AEST 5:00pm on 11 May, just as National Volunteering Week begins.
BP Australia Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Dr. Mark Glazebrook says every day, volunteers across the country use their own vehicles to help those in need, and often these volunteers use their own money to pay for their fuel.
He says more and more Australians are volunteering each year despite the financial pressures that lending a hand places on these volunteers.
Latest ABS Statistics show that more than 5 million people in Australia participate in voluntary work annually, contributing over 700 million hours to the community at an average of 136 hours each (2.6 hours per week). These figures also show that the percentage of the population volunteering has increased over recent years from 24% to 34%.
Dr. Glazebrook says BP’s Vouchers for Volunteers programme recognises the important role fuel plays in assisting volunteers to help others, and it addresses this through helping to pay for volunteers’ fuel.
Volunteering Australia National Communications Manager Peter Cocks says it’s great to see a large corporate like BP supporting volunteering at a grass-roots level.
He says many volunteers will benefit from Vouchers for Volunteers as it makes sure the benefits go to the individual volunteer who is generously giving their time to help in their own community.
Volunteering Australia encourages volunteers to apply for the programme to help them in their volunteer work by reducing their out of pocket expenses.
BP says the Vouchers for Volunteers programme forms part of BP’s broader commitment to acting in a socially responsible manner and pursuing sustainable initiatives to assist the Australian community.
More information on the program, including online application forms and guidelines, is available at www.talkstoppedlongago.com.au
Applications open on Monday 27 April and close on Monday 11 May.
