Otago Community Trust, August 2015 Donations

15 Sep 2015

Media Release

Youthline Otago has just received a $15,000 boost from the Otago Community Trust to help it run its Helpline Programme.

Youthline Otago is one of nine New Zealand hubs to run a dedicated youth helpline, the service available via phone, text, email and now webchat.

Youthline Otago Manager Brian Lowe said it is serving a growing need – last year the helpline dealt with 14,000 individuals in Otago alone, with 900 phone calls, and 13,000 text messages sent, up on the previous year. Enquires they dealt with ranged from simple referrals, through to helping young people with serious issues such as bullying, anxiety, depression, and suicide.

“We’re grateful for the support of the Otago Community Trust; the grant is invaluable in helping us meet on-going costs and to provide essential volunteer training and development.”

Otago Community Trust Chief Executive Barbara Bridger said one of the Trust’s priority funding areas is Youth Health and Wellbeing. “This donation recognises the need for a helpline in Otago, and the importance of Youthline’s work with the region’s young people.”

The Otago Community Trust donations for August totalled $270,800, to 29 Otago organisations.

Ms Bridger said the grants are meeting a large range of community needs, from helping the Tuvalu community travel to Oamaru for Independence Day celebrations, to assisting with Warrington Primary School’s pool upgrade, and helping Musical Theatre Oamaru produce the Broadway musical “The Addams Family" at the Oamaru Opera House over September.

Support also included a major grant to the Dunedin Prison Charitable Trust to assist with stage one of its restoration project. The 110-year-old prison, which is a listed historic building, needs considerable repairs to preserve it and achieve compliance, improving the structure, stonework and slate roof. It is also hoped some of the building’s unique features may be restored.

The Trust runs tours through the prison in the summer months.

Prison Trust funding Manager Owen Graham said the Otago Community Trust funding was timely, the support qualifying them to apply for national environment and heritage grants. “Thanks to the Otago Community Trust, we are so much further down the track of raising the $350,000 needed for this stage of the restoration project.”

The Otago Community Trust is also backing the "WoolOn Creative Fashion Event" on October 9 and 10, part of this year’s Alexandra Blossom Festival. WoolOn, a showcase of creative design and fashion highlighting wool, has several new sections in this year’s event, including an international prize, and young emerging designers and novice designer’s awards.

Alexandra

Alexandra Blossom Festival Inc

$3,000

 

Central Otago District Arts Trust

$5,000

Dunedin

Momona Hockey Club

$150

 

Tuvalu Community

$150

 

Dunedin Pride Organising Committee 2013

$500

 

Otago Malaysian Students' Association (OMSA)

$1,000

 

Girl Guiding NZ - Western Hills District Jamboree Fundraising

$1,800

 

Otago Fish & Game Council

$2,000

 

Tainui School

$2,000

 

Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

$2,500

 

Operation New Direction Trust

$3,000

 

Dunedin Curtain Bank Trust

$5,000

 

West Dunedin Youth and Community Trust

$8,000

 

Port Chalmers Rowing Club

$10,000

 

The Otago Early Childhood & Schools Maori & Pacific Island Festival Trust

$10,000

 

Youthline Otago Inc

$15,000

 

Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society Inc

$25,000

 

Dunedin Prison Charitable Trust

$90,000

Mosgiel

East Taieri School

$3,000

Oamaru

Oamaru Athletic Marist Rugby Football Club

$5,000

 

Oamaru Repertory Society Inc

$8,700

 

Musical Theatre Oamaru

$15,000

 

Literacy North Otago Inc

$30,000

Otago

Public Health Association - Otago/Southland Branch

$4,000

 

Hockey New Zealand

$7,500

Other

Institute for Child Protection Studies

$5,000

Waik/Palm

Warrington Primary School

$5,000

Wanaka

Mount Aspiring Outdoor Education Centre Trust

$1,000

 

Wanaka Community Trust

$2,500