Recycled funding coming round again

 

JULIA WADE

Local organisations, groups and clubs involved with projects that will enrich and inspire Mangawhai’s community, are invited to apply for funding from the only local community-driven, independent funding organisation. With recycled funding generated by the sale of second-hand quality goods and supported by loads of community spirit, Mangawhai Community Opportunity Shop Trust (MCOST) aka The Factory, have announced their sixth round of community grants.

Available on September 1, the grants will mark nearly three years since the Trust was first initiated, and in that time have given out 77 grants totalling $237,377, MCOST spokesperson Dianne Christensen says.

“The money has been created from community kindness, from the giving of donations, to our big hearted volunteers who give of their time, the community who buy the goods at great prices, and in turn give back to community groups providing social benefits in our area – how good is that!”

Besides community focused groups, Christensen would like to encourage people to also apply for their ‘Youth Achievement Category’.

“Which is a group or organisation, teacher or a school, who know of a child or youth with a passion and commitment to a particular field such as arts, music, science, sport, culture, technology, and they see this young person as having untapped future potential and is unlikely to have the opportunity to develop skills further,” she says. “The grant is to assist the individual with tuition or mentoring or similar. It is not for regular education or school programmes. We would really like to see more application for this category.”

The youth or child must also reside within the geographic boundary guidelines and cannot be applied for by a parent.

Recipients from round five are relishing the items and opportunities the grants have provided which range from sports uniforms and lessons and horse show jumping poles, to first aid equipment, compost and fertiliser.

From humble beginnings of one small garden dug straight into the dirt 12 years ago, Mangawhai Community Garden has bloomed and blossomed in both plants, plots and members, and is now one of the longest running volunteer groups in the area, co-founder Joan Farrell says.

Surrounded by rabbit-proof fences protecting a wide range of vegetables and fruit trees, nurtured by the 10-15 weekly volunteers, the gardens help to feed many in the community from the elderly to those who are struggling financially. Money from previous Factory grants provided raised garden beds ‘which are great because none of us are getting any younger’, with the recent grant helping to buy much-needed compost, fertiliser and to get the gardens pest-free.

Some of the dedicated green-fingered volunteers who meet every Friday morning, from left, Nicolette Franks, Marie Fitt, Sue Voss, Victoria Wilson, cofounder Ted Tuffey, Terry Edlin, Joan Farrell and Trish Harvey with four-legged helper, Wallee.
PHOTO/JULIA WADE


To store the loads of gifted items and tools the Mangawhai Shed receives from the community, they bought a storage container with their grant, which will hopefully be parked up at the Domain, if awarded permission by Domain members to move their club onto the grounds. The decision will be decided at the September 27 AGM and Shed chair Steve MacKay is hoping to pop some champagne after to celebrate.

“Before then we will be at the Museum’s last midwinter sale on August 30 promoting our ambitions and selling trinkets as fundraisers, and each Friday until then we will be in production of said trinkets in Cames Road.”

Shed men pictured in 2019, from left, Barry Benning, Rex Haves, Phil Elrick, Miguel Hamber, Owen Williams and founder Steve MacKay.
PHOTO/FILE


Mangawhai Helping Hands (MHH) received a grant to get their youth development program into full swing with a youth boxing course, initiated by local Jasmine Vaughan and held at Level Movement gym at Mangawhai Heads. MHH administrator Libby Clews says the course has rolled out to be a great format with support and sponsorship

“It was a dream of Jasmines to have something provided in her home town which was going to bring some positive input in shaping our up-and-coming youth,” she says. “Fitness, nutrition and fun incorporated in a safe place for kids to find their confidence within. Lucky for us the space had already been created and an awesome coach was ready to jump on board and put in the hard yakka!”
PHOTO/SUPPLIED

With their Factory grant money Mangawhai Netball Club decked out teams in new uniforms for this season as well as ‘a whole lot of equipment’. PHOTO/SUPPLIED