Eastern & Central Community Trust (ECCT) makes funding donations to community organisations in Gisborne District, Hawke's Bay, Tararua, Wairarapa, Manawatu & Horowhenua.
Gisborne District
Several teams which play under the umbrella of the Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby Football Union, New Zealand's smallest rugby union, will take the field in new gear this season thanks to a donation from the Eastern and Central Community Trust. It is a battle for some of the smaller clubs to recruit enough volunteers and fundraise for new playing strips but the union has stepped in to provide support to help keep smaller clubs active. Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby Development Office Jimmy Aupouri says teams have been playing in gear that has been repeatedly stitched up and repaired, has lost its colour and looks tatty. “The donation for new apparel is a good boost and will help lift morale and provide motivation for players and the communities they represent,” he says. Rugby has always been strong on the coast and this year a new team is re-entering the competition after more than a decade in recess. The Tawhiti – Te Puia Springs team increases the competition to nine this season. The $10,000 donation from the Community Trust will be shared among various teams; Tokomaru Bay, Tokarangi, Hicks Bay Hourouta and the under 16s.
Two other sporting donations for the Gisborne district have also been approved.
The Eastland Sports Foundation Education Trust is receiving $30,000 for its Sport on the Move programme. The Community Trust has been supporting the programme since 1999, providing funding for more than 200 intermediate and secondary school students to travel to Gisborne for weekly competitions. The Community Trust says sport is a catalyst which brings communities together and the Sport on the Move initiative gives young players from the East Coast an opportunity to take part in the Gisborne competitions. Without the donation to cover travel costs, many of the children would not be able to take part.
A $15,000 donation to the Gisborne Netball Centre will provide support for management of the sport, which is played by more than 1,500 throughout the region.
The Wainui Surf Lifesaving Club will be using its $8,000 donation for urgent repairs to its septic tank system which is creating a health hazard. It is regularly blocking, causing sewage to overflow. While the club has a strong membership, its public toilets are also used by beach visitors and travellers heading up to the East Coast.
Smaller donations are also being made to Gisborne Blue Light Ventures, $4,000, for its various community youth programmes aimed at reducing drug, alcohol, violence and crime; and to the Tairawhiti Youthworkers Collective, $1,000, for workshops to train youth workers how to integrate interactive drawing therapy into their work.