This weekend’s Sirens and Services expo will be the first event for Colleen Pye in her role as Te Puke Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator.

The expo is the latest in a series of events being run by Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support and will be held inside and outside Te Puke War Memorial Hall tomorrow.

It will feature a range of local providers who all have some element of keeping people safe.

Among them will be Emergency Management BOP, Here 2 Help U, Aquatic Survival Skills Trust, People First Te Puke, Bay Financial Mentors, Total Safety and Triple P Parenting.

“We just want to make sure people in Te Puke and the greater Te Puke area are aware of what’s available to them,” Pye said.

Also in attendance will be the emergency services, including the Coastguard, with vehicles parked outside the hall.

Aquatic Survival Skills will be among the exhibitors at tomorrow’s Sirens and Services event in Te Puke. Photo / Supplied

Neighbourhood Support’s purpose is to enable people to be and stay connected and supporteach other to help make neighbourhoods safe and welcoming for all.

It facilitates opportunities to connect with others and that, said Pye, is the purpose of the Sirens and Services.

“We want the public to know that NS doesn’t work alone, we connect other community connect all communities together so people feel safe. We are here to facilitate the community to be connected, however that may be.

“There’s also the chance to let people know of other benefits of Neighbourhood Support such as receiving emails with information on what’s happening in the community, getting tips to improve the safety of your home and your community, learning how to get prepared for emergencies and being invited to attend community events organised by Neighbourhood Support.

“Those attending the expo will get a passport to fill in with rewards in the form of ice creams.

“The best way to get people together is to have something that’s fun, and this is a fun event with free ice cream,” Pye said.

Rebecca Larsen has organised the series of events.

“People have been really supportive of the events overall, bringing their kids and families along and finding out about things they didn’t know existed as support services in their community.”

She said for families with two or three children, treats can be expensive, so the free ice cream is a big drawcard.

There will be other features of the expo designed to attract families including the SPCA’s make-a-dog-toy activity and opportunity for children to sit in one of the emergency service vehicles.

Sirens and Services is on from 10am to 2pm.

Kiwicoast Lions will run a tea stall, Te Puke Scouts will hold a fundraising community barbecue and, while the event is free, anyone who is able is asked to take along a non-perishable food item to be donated to The Hub Te Puke Foodbank.

Other organisations present will include: WBOPDC Waste Management Team, Safe Surfer, Colab Te Puke, Sustainability Options, Poutiri Wellness, Volunteering Services/Social Link, The Hub Te Puke, Youth Encounter and Smart Guys.

Pye said some organisations are unable to attend, but many have contributed in other ways such as donating spot prizes.