The 2019/20 financial statement revealed a loss of $316,664 compared to a profit of $65,475 in 2018/19.

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic has been identified as the main cause of the loss, resulting in staff redundancies.

Higher advertising costs, occupancy expenses and salaries and wages are among the increased costs in the 2019/20 year compared to 2018/19.

Acting chief executive Robbie Millar said the board established that through a combination of the effects of COVID-19 and some longer term structural instability, the organisation posted a "significant financial loss".

READ MORE:

Despite the suspension of many traditional volunteering opportunities due to the pandemic, the Centre's annual report revealed it managed to induct 26 new volunteers and supported 44 volunteer managers and coordinators.

Service highlights included the Wimmera Social Support team, headlined by 47 volunteers, who travelled more than 34,000 kilometres to help people across the Wimmera Southern Mallee access medical transport.

Food social enterprises also experienced high demand in recent months, with 7500 meals home delivered.

The closure of the Laneway Cafe premises led to food operations moving to the Centre's commercial kitchen in Horsham, which catered for the production of low-cost, home delivered meals for older people isolated during lockdown.

This allowed the organisation to reduce costs and better enable quality work experience opportunities for young people and multicultural women, the annual report said.

The Centre for Participation was formed in 2015 following the merger of Wimmera Volunteers and the Wimmera HUB.

Did you know you can receive updates straight to your inbox? To make sure you're up-to-date with news from across the region, sign up below.