Grants benefit New Zealand children

30 June 2008

Exploring the special needs of children at an out-of-school recreation programme and developing some safe party guidelines for young people are two of the latest projects to benefit from Save the Children New Zealand’s Small Grants Fund.

Save the Children Small Grants of up to $10,000 are awarded twice a year to New Zealand-based initiatives that will create a positive change in children’s lives.

Projects must focus on child participation, protection and poverty and, where appropriate, involve children in their development and planning.

The Christchurch Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Network has been awarded $10,000 to fund research into the special needs, medical conditions and disabilities of those children aged 5-13 who attend its programme. The aim is to improve service and boost the network’s nationwide staff training programme for special needs children.

Help for Young People at Events and in their Gathering Spaces (HYPE-GS) is a Nelson-based project which supports young people to keep themselves safe at parties and other events. It has been awarded $10,000 to develop a travelling theatre show which will tour schools and informal youth groups in the Nelson/Tasman area to reinforce safe messages about excessive drinking, street crime and transportation.

John Bowis, Executive Director of Save the Children New Zealand says: “We have been delighted and inspired by the level of enthusiasm and commitment shown by all those who applied to our Small Grants Fund toward improving the lives of children within New Zealand. We now look forward to seeing the efforts of our successful recipients as they come to fruition.”

The successful projects were chosen by the Small Grants Fund committee, which is made up of young people, professionals and community workers involved in child and youth development.

The committee will meet again in September to discuss applicants for this year’s second round of funding.

Other recipients of the latest funding round include:

Children’s Issues Centre, College of Education University Otago (awarded $2,000). Project: to fund a national seminar on children, parent policy and the law
IHC Waikato ($9,359) Project: a multimedia exhibition that will create new relationships and opportunities for the disabled
Child Protection Studies, Hamilton ($5,900) Project: Tutor training conference on preventing harm to children through education and awareness
Porirua Activity Centre, Wellington ($1,670). Project: educational programmes for at-risk youth
Peace Foundation, Wellington ($3,470). Project: addressing conflict and violence among youth
YWCA National Office, Wellington ($7,004) Project: sexual health and rights-based education for young women
KaPai Kaiti Trust, Gisborne ($6,900). Project: involving young people in the development of the Kaiti schools curriculum
St John of Waipuna Youth and Community Trust, Nelson ($4000). Project: youth-friendly antenatal and postnatal education for teen parents
Coromandel Independent Living Trust ($7,350). Project: creating learning opportunities for children
The New Hub, Nelson. ($1,400). Project: anti-racism video.

More information about these projects can be found here.