Eastern & Central Community Trust (ECCT) makes funding donations to community organisations in Gisborne District, Hawke's Bay, Tararua, Wairarapa, Manawatu & Horowhenua.
Manawatu
Leaps and bounds for Palmerston North YMCA
A $20,000 donation from the Eastern and Central Community is rewarding the determination of the Palmerston North YMCA to improve its facilities to meet the growing demand from throughout Manawatu for its recreational programmes. As part of its new strategic plan, the YMCA is upgrading its building in an effort to raise its performance and support its programme of redevelopment and growth. The Community Trust donation will be used for building improvements and carpets. Last year a similar Community Trust donation helped pay for new flooring in the gymnasium. Operational Manager in Palmerston North, Vaughan Dennison, says the YMCA was traditionally a small organisation providing after school and school holiday programmes but it is now growing its base, extending programmes into Feilding and Linton.
A Vertx climbing gym in its Park Road building has 20 top rope climbs and a challenging boulder room. New programmes, regular youth initiatives, such as a Nights of Expression music event for teenagers, are also proving popular. Kiwi sport initiatives and a seven week-seven kilometre Super 7 series based at the YMCA and run by the Manawatu Striders brought between 1,600 and 1,800 people through the facility each night. Mr Dennison says the new building work will get underway after the school holidays. The Community Trust has provided funding for the YMCA for several years in recognition of its work with young people in the region.
Another special Community Trust donation of $25,000 is being made to the Palmerston North Assembly of God for upgrading its community function room. The church is experiencing greater demand from the wider community as the economic environment tightens. The upgrade will provide a multi-purpose training centre and hospitality venue that can be used by government funded social organisations and as a base for education programmes involving teenage parents.
Donations keep community groups alive
A range of Manawatu community groups will receive more than $47,000 in donations of between $400 and $4,000 from the Eastern and Central Community Trust this month.
The Women's Health Collective in Palmerston North has gained a reprieve for its counselling services, with a $4,000 donation. The Collective provides much-needed services for women and their families, particularly those on low incomes. Manager Jean Hera says the need for funding for the subsidised counselling service has become more important as families face increasing hardship, higher unemployment and rising prices. The $4,000 donation will enable the Collective to continue its counselling for two days a week and provide the service to a greater number of women.
Other groups to receive $4,000 include:
- The Bush Ruahine Indoor Bowls for building repairs, Makino Rotary Club for its youth driver programme, Feilding Rugby Club for resurfacing floors, Across – Te Kotahitanga O Te Wairua for post-natal depression programmes, Netball Manawatu for expenses, and the Manawatu Horowhenua Tararua Diabetes Trust for education and health programmes. The Square Affair Retro Festival, a two week celebration of 1950s and 1960s memorabilia which ended at Easter, also received a $4,000 donation.
Donations of $3,000 go to:
- Feilding Cricket Club for playing gear and equipment, the Feilding Swimming Club for pool hireage, Terrace End Bowling Club for roof repairs and the Ian McKean Pinetum for track improvements.
Donations of $2,000 go to DARE Manawatu for student and family programmes and St Mary's Parish in Palmerston North to upgrade the parish hall floor
The Palmerston North Dance Association receives $500 and donations of $400 have been approved for the Feilding Kindergarten and the Manawatu Model Railway Club.