The Vital Resources Fund is designed to support communities surrounding BHP's Australian operations in a range of areas such as health services and resilience building during this difficult time. Depending on needs the support can be in kind or financial donations.

Lee Watts Manager of the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre said 'I am very excited to announce that our service was successful to receive funding from the BHP Vital Resource Funding.

'The funding will enable our service to co-ordinate volunteers and match them with our most vulnerable in the community to assist and support them.

'This week is National Volunteer week a time when we acknowledge and thank our volunteers. Covid-19 put a stop to the thankyou parties but I would like to acknowledge every volunteer and thank them personally for their work. This week did not see the acknowledgement the volunteers deserved but I hope that every one of you are aware that every service that work with and alongside volunteers are the luckiest in the world;, said Mrs Watts.

'Volunteers are so generous with their time, some volunteer to fill the hours in a day while others are happy to volunteer to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them.

'Volunteer can also develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge that will benefit them if looking for work when all returns to normal.

'This service will match volunteers to support our most vulnerable in our community through shopping and delivering groceries, picking up and delivering of medication or collecting delivering books. Or it may be a daily phone call for those on their own and isolated and to check all is OK,' she said.

Mrs Watts is encouraging people to try volunteering If anyone is interested to join our team as a volunteer please get in touch. 6545 2562.