Factory grants: What goes around comes back around

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BY JULIA WADE

With the announcement of Mangawhai’s community op shop’s second funding round now open to receiving applications, first round recipients show exactly what can be achieved with items no longer required.

Mangawhai Community Opportunity Shop Trust (MCOST) spokesperson Ken Rayward says the Factory’s high turnover of second-hand quality goods has turned ‘imagination into reality’ with each of the nine worthy local recipient’s initiatives being progressed through grants. 

“Imagine... your unwanted items of furniture making it possible for 20 local Mangawhai youths to attend a life skills and seamanship training course with North Rodney Blue Light… your unwanted electrical appliances are making it possible for the Mangawhai Volunteer Surf Club to acquire a container to store their life saving equipment for their growing youth membership, and your unwanted clothing items are enabling the building of the new Mangawhai fire station. 

“Imagine… your unwanted sports gear and tools enabling the supply of emergency food parcels and counselling to Mangawhai families in need through Te Whai Community Trust… your unwanted beds and bedding enabling the young school kids of Mangawhai to enjoy playing and experiencing games and toys not previously available to them at Toy Library, and your unwanted books and art enabling the Mangawhai School Hall to be refurbished. 

“Imagine... your unwanted cook-wear enabling the completion of two all-weather tennis courts in the heart of Mangawhai… your unwanted jewellery and watches enabling the construction of the new Gumdiggers Track off Molesworth Drive adding to Mangawhai's walking track reputation and your unwanted camping gear enabling the building of a bush walkway that links Mangawhai community and lifestyle facilities.”
MCOST’s second round of grants is set to financially support a wider pool of local initiatives due to the funds being twice the amount than the first round, with three categories available Rayward says. 

The three grant sectors are:
‘Mangawhai for Mangawhai’, enabling the commencement or completion of social and infrastructure projects;
 ‘Step Up’, for organisations that may not have a charitable trust or legal entity but require grant funding to enable the realisation of a beneficial community project, and;   ‘Youth Achievement’, where applicants must be from a recognised and active youth organisation in Mangawhai, with the aim to benefit local youth by enabling skill development or infrastructure support.
An award ceremony, doubling as The Factory’s first birthday celebration, is planned for October 13 complete with Mayor Jason Smith presenting grant certificates to the selected recipients and gala festivities. All are welcome. 
 MCOST grants close September 21. Application packs can be requested by emailing mcostnz@gmail.com 

Factory’s first round representatives. Back left, John Phillis (tennis), Jon Drucker (surf life saving), MCOST chair Roger Hill, Sergeant Geoff Medland with Shane and Kristal Gould (North Rodney Blue Light), and Factory trustee Ken Rayward. Front left, Ross Parkes (fire brigade), Hamish Judson (MAZ) and Sue Poynter (Te Whai Community Trust). 

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