Eastern & Central Community Trust (ECCT) makes funding donations to community organisations in Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bay, Tararua, Wairarapa, Manawatu & Horowhenua.
Horowhenua
Kids experience Life to the Max
A $20,000 donation from the Eastern and Central Community Trust to Horowhenua's Life to the Max organisation will help keep troubled youngsters on the straight and narrow.
The Life to the Max team is multi-disciplinary, providing intervention for at-risk youth in Horowhenua, with the scheme providing support to youngsters who've been in trouble with the law and are required to complete community service. It operates under the control of the police.
The Community Trust donation will be used towards the cost of purchasing a 10-seater van to transport young people and support workers. There are currently about 55 youngsters involved in the community graffiti clean-up and less than five percent who have been involved with Life to the Max have reoffended.
“This project is a major initiative in the Levin area, involving collaboration of many agencies,” says Community Trust Donations Manager Bev Watkins.
“It targets intermediate aged children and their families to prevent juvenile offenders from leaving school early and entering a life of crime.”
The Community Trust has been a long-time support of Life to the Max in Horowhenua and other areas throughout its coverage area.
Among other donations given to Horowhenua organisations in the latest Community Trust funding round is $5,000 to Ohau School, which has a roll of 30 children. The money will be used to help pay for a new educational programme for children that works to develop hand-eye, balance, movement and fitness. By improving coordination and cognitive abilities, children are able to better integrate into classroom challenges. There is growing demand for such programmes as more children lead sedentary lifestyles.