Otago Community Trust, April 2014 Donations

Media Release

The Otago Community Trust is helping Dunedin school leavers bridge the gap between school and taking the next step in life.

The Trust is part of a community partnership between 10 Dunedin secondary schools, the Otago Polytechnic, and Dunedin professional development firm Richard Joseph and Associates.

It last month donated $26,250 to the Bridging the Gap programme, which will put 30 pupils a year from each Dunedin secondary school through a two-day course aimed at equipping youth with  the skills and information they need to make fully informed decisions about their future.

Co-ordinator Michael Simmons said students on the course reflect on the path they want to create for their future, helping them to set a positive life trajectory.

They learn about career paths, what the in-demand industries are, and tertiary education options. They find out about the skills most valued by employers and how to best maximise their strengths and manage weaknesses.  The course also includes a financial literacy module on budgeting advice, information on student loans and other key financial concepts.

"Youth unemployment and disengagement is a real problem in the south. This community partnership is the first step in creating a strong resilient and capable economy by ensuring our school leavers have all the information they need to realise their potential."

The Otago Community Trust gave $611,300 to 35 Otago organisations in total last month, including

$339,000 in annual grants to 10 Otago welfare organisations to assist with the funding of community programmes.

The Community Trust was pleased to help fund “Oamaru on fire,” a fire themed entertainment family night planned for Friday May 30.  Feature lighting displays, smoke effects, controlled explosions, projected images, music, bands, dancers, sports and films will illuminate Harbour Street’s unique Victorian architecture. 

It is also happy to have helped the Otago Sports Car Club with a $15,000 donation towards hosting the ever-popular Otago Rally, support it has given the club over many years.  The rally attracts New Zealand’s leading rally car competitors and many visitors to town to support the two-day racing and supporting events.

The Trust has again provided $67,500 a year for a scholarship towards the cost of one student from every secondary school in Otago to attend the Outward Bound adventure course at Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds.  Twenty five Otago young people will experience three weeks of outdoor activities that extend their physical and mental boundaries and their self-confidence, with outcomes that reach into the school community and beyond.

A $4000 donation to the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust has helped produce a training DVD aimed to help reduce the fishing industry’s biocatch of protected seabirds including penguins.  Trust spokesperson David McFarlane said the DVD showcases what conservationists in Otago are achieving on land, and at the same time highlights the daily issues facing southern fishermen and the mitigating work they already do at sea to stop catching albatross and mollyhawks.  “Neither the fishing industry nor conservationists  want to see these endangered species in the fishing nets so the DVD has proved a constructive step to build understanding for both groups.”

Otago Community Transport Trust is very grateful to the Community Trust for a $10,000 donation that will help it to buy a replacement vehicle.  The Transport Trust provides an invaluable service that transports elderly and disadvantaged people in South Dunedin and Mornington to the supermarket from their homes – around 100 trips a month. Spokesperson Joy Ward said the organisation is very grateful for the donation towards replacing their well-used and old vehicle.  “It helps us help a group of people to remain independent; the service is much appreciated by our clients.”

The Community Trust also supported the arts, including the Waikouaiti Amateur Music & Drama Society to stage “The Boyfriend” theatre restaurant show for the local community.

Alexandra	Central Otago Regional Orchestra	$1,000
	Omakau School	$10,000
Dunedin	Robbie White Charitable Trust	$400
	Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon & Cage Bird Club	$400
	Harbour Rugby Football Club Inc	$500
	Otago Polytechnic - Dunedin School of Art	$750
	Wingatui Community Hall Society	$2,500
	Otago University Debating Society	$3,000
	Queens High School	$3,000
	Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust	$4,000
	NZ Salmon Anglers Assn Otago Branch	$4,000
	Dunedin Community Transport Trust	$10,000
	Otago University Rowing Club	$10,000
	Otago Sports Car Club Inc	$15,000
	Otago Polytechnic - Bridging The Gap	$26,250
	Fortune Theatre Trust	$45,000
Mosgiel	Reid Park Kindergarten	$5,000
Oamaru	Waitaki Tourism Association	$4,000
Other	Taki Rua Productions Society Inc	$3,000
	Chamber Music New Zealand Trust	$4,000
	Outward Bound	$67,500
Waikouaiti/ Palmerston	Waikouaiti Amateur Music & Drama Society Inc	$3,000
Wanaka	NZ Mountain Film Festival Charitable Trust	$5,000
	Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust	$45,000