Lottery money promotes youth development

8/4/2004

More than $600,000 of lottery funding is being distributed to community groups committed to improving the wellbeing and development potential of young New Zealanders.

The Lottery Youth National Committee recently approved 64 grants totaling $646,119 to organizations around the country.

These include funding for youth worker salaries, toys, and youth suicide prevention initiatives.

Lottery Grants Board acting secretary Morag Osborne says Lottery Youth approves grants to community groups it considers most likely to create development and participation opportunities for young people.

“The committee’s vision is to improve the quality of life of young people and develop awareness of their cultural identity.

“There’s a wide variety of excellent community-led programmes and initiatives that can achieve these ends, and all applications are carefully considered on their merits,” Ms Osborne said.

“In this funding round, several projects stood out as excellent examples of youth development in action, and are projects that will make real strides towards strengthening their communities.”

Grants include:

• $13,500 to The Stage Challenge Foundation (Auckland) for event costs and venue hire.

“This is a high profile event that draws in more than 12,000 young people. It’s a school-based activity, although it’s non-curricular, that promotes youth development and participation in a number of different ways,” Morag Osborne says.

• $5,400 to the Boys Brigade New Zealand Inc for a national leadership development camp.

“This grant is for a national, week-long camp for senior members of the Boys Brigade that focuses on developing leadership potential. Young men attending take part in a two-part, Outward Bound style programme that creates opportunities for the physical and spiritual development required for leadership roles,” Morag Osborne says.

• $12,150 to the Marlborough Youth Trust to cover salary, training and supervision and volunteer expenses.

“This grant will support the Marlborough Youth Trust to continue the youth work it carries out in Blenheim,” Morag Osborne says.

Last year, Lottery Grants Board youth committees distributed nearly $5 million of lottery money to communities around New Zealand.

Outside of direct Government contributions, Lottery funds are the most significant source of community development in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Lotteries Commission funds the Lottery Grants Board, which also allocates money to Sport and Recreation New Zealand, Creative New Zealand and the Film Commission.

For more information on Lottery Grants visit www.cdgo.govt.nz, www.dia.govt.nz or call 0800 824 824.

Contacts:

Claire Hall, communications advisor, Community Development Group
(04) 495-7299 or 027 284 4228

The Stage Challenge Foundation
Barb Cuttance, (09) 815 9660

Boys Brigade Inc
Tim Pratt, (09) 360 9997

Marlborough Youth Trust
Terewa Phillips, (03) 577 2350