We grant funds to support projects that facilitate improved educational outcomes for people in our region by adding value to the sector, with a focus on innovative projects and lifelong learning.
Our Community Stories give an insight into our own grant-making decisions. These stories show the people from our community that benefit from funding.
If you have a great story to tell or want to know more contact our communications coordinator
More stories from our community
Otago Outdoor Education Trust - Camp Adventure Course
4,000 young children a year head to the Bannockburn Outdoor Education Camp, on the site of the original Bannockburn School (1872-1970) for their education outside the classroom programmes.
Situated in the heart of Central Otago, Bannockburn camp offers a great base for both onsite and offsite experiences for groups of all sizes.
In order to provide a more challenging physical environment for camp users
the Otago Outdoor Education Trust has this year installed a low ropes course to further develop team building skills and new challenging physical goals, for the primary school children that attend the camp.
The camp sleeps a total of 58 people across a number of buildings, including the camp house, bunkrooms and a sleepout.
The Trust has plans to upgrade the bunkrooms, insulating and double glazing the windows, so as to extend the use of the facility outside of solely summer months.
Outside of school camps the facility can be hired out to the community offering a wonderful spot for functions or family events.
New Zealand Centre for Gifted Education - MindPlus Wakatipu 2020
New Zealand Centre for Gifted Education provides the MindPlus programme for gifted children in the Wakatipu and wider Central Otago region. The Trust provides support through operational funding towards running the programme. There are 13 MindPlus units operating nationwide. MindPlus Wakatipu provides classes three days per week with different children attending each day. Children from Year 1-8 identified as being suitable for the specialist programme enjoyed the challenges and stimulation of like-minds together and a rigorous curriculum delivered by specialist educators. No other programme like this operates in Wakatipu. During the months affected by COVID-19, the programme was adapted to be delivered online, which worked well over the period, however they have enjoyed returning to the classroom.
Kahu Youth Trust
Kahu Youth Trust expands to Hawea to meet demand
This year we look at the work Kahu Youth Trust are doing in the Upper Clutha community. Kahu Youth Trust is one of four youth trusts in the CLT region, all of which have been around for over 15 years. CLT supports youth to connect with the wider community, build life skills, increase self-esteem and grow in confidence. The Trust has supported the youth trusts with operational expenses for many years.
Kahu Youth runs a range of programmes for youth, including after school groups and activities, specialised events, holiday programmes, and one-on-one sessions.
They worked hard to adapt their planned programmes accordingly through lockdown levels. So while a lot of the schools interaction could no longer happen, they provided substantial one-on-one support, and through lockdown held drop-in sessions daily via Zoom.
2021 sees Kahu Youth expanding from their Wanaka base at the ‘Crib’ into the Hawea township, as there has been significant growth in the community and many young families are now living there.
CLT SCHOOLS EMERGENCY FUND - COVID-19
Central Lakes Trust steps up for COVID-19 resilience in schools
COVID-19 imposed constraints on us all, regardless of age. Our tamariki and rangatahi faced particular challenges.
Schools often rely on gaming machine or other community funding to supplement the costs of extracurricular activities. In the absence or reduction of that funding due to COVID-19, Central Lakes Trust created a one-off initiative to assist in the recovery and wellbeing of the young in our region.
A package was put together to ensure extracurricular activities could continue to be funded through schools. Supporting schools to deliver some form of normal, assisted in not only building their resilience but had a positive impact on families within our wider community.
$235,000 was granted to the 27 schools within the Central Lakes region, based on their school roll.
For Clyde Primary School this funding meant a mixture of ice skating and curling in Alexandra, or a day trip
to the Snow Farm. Remarkables Primary School completed a writers workshop from which they created a book ‘Remarkable Stories from Remarkable Writers’, artwork from this can be seen on our annual report cover.
STREET SMART
Street Smart - Driver training programme 2020
The Trust supports the Street Smart programme within Central Lakes to give young drivers improved decision making and driving skills to avoid crashes or minimise injury.
Fatal crashes, where the driver’s contribution is significant, are two to three times more likely to involve 15-24 year old drivers, than drivers 25 years and older. Rates of youth vehicle accident fatalities in New
Zealand are one of the highest in the OECD. As at 7 December 2020, overall road deaths in New Zealand had declined by 7% compared to 2019, however in the Otago region they had increased over the same period by 30%.
While the programme focuses on young drivers, parents and caregivers also attend the programme, the aim is to benefit drivers of all ages in the region. It offers hands- on practical road safety and awareness exercises not included within driver licensing testing, and not always possible to achieve in traditional driving lessons.
The Street Smart programme was held at Highlands Motorsport Park in July, October and December delivering a world-class, cognitive based driver programme to 90 young drivers and their parent/ caregivers and has positively influenced the lives of young Central Lakes people on our roads.
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME
Youth Employment Programme benefits at risk youth
The Youth Employment Project commenced in 2018 almost solely funded by CLT. The programme’s aim is to develop a coordinated learning pathway to ensure continued engagement of secondary school students in education and/or training and employment.
The success of the programme over the past three years sees its expansion into Wakatipu High School and Mt Aspiring College this year. This was a CLT initiative driven primarily with funding from the Trust originally, but with its success more funders have come on board, including the Otago Polytechnic Trades Academy. We are really proud of how well programme has done and even more proud of the students that have made it a success. Forty-three students have been assisted thus far into a range fields from shearing, building, mechanics, roofing, hospitality, hairdressing, brick laying, earthworks, farming, early childhood, viticulture, engineering, IT and plumbing.
CENTRAL OTAGO POLYTECHNIC
Trades Academy Tools & Equipment
Otago Polytechnic Central Campus last year developed a new secondary-tertiary college trades academy facility, for use by trades academy students and those attending Level 3 auto mechanics and carpentry programmes. The facility, funded by the polytechnic is now in full use. We checked it out with a visit to see the students in action utilising the new tools and equipment the trust funded to enable the course to commence.
The opportunity for students to train in the trades locally has had a significant impact on where and what the students future career path is to be.
“I would not have had the opportunity to get into automotive training had it not been for the OSTC course. I want to gain an auto apprenticeship when I leave school, and would rather stay in the region.” - Hunter Stevenson
“I am intending on joining the army to be a mechanic when I leave school and I would not have had the opportunity if the facilities were not in Cromwell to give me the pre-trade skills for entry into the army” - Aonghus Anderson
OTAGO PLAYCENTRE ASSOCIATION
Omakau Playcentre Facility Extension and Redevelopment
The Omakau Playcentre is enjoying the extension to their facility. It has seen the centre almost double in numbers, offering a playcentre that is ‘like new’.
The extension off the back of the facility adds an upgraded kitchen and bathroom and the addition of an office and a sleep room for the children, where previously children had to return home for naps. This creates the dedicated areas necessary for quality education.
With the closest alternate preschool located in Alexandra or Ranfurly, in many cases this centre shortens the distance families need to travel to attend a playcentre.
CENTRAL OTAGO REAP
Adult Literacy – Choices Programme
REAP Central Otago provide a diverse and extensive educational resource to our communities, implementing a life-long learning approach.
They offer a range of programmes for early childhood through to adults. Their Adult Literacy programme provides free one-to-one and group tutoring for reading, writing, numeracy, and communication skills. Between 25-40 students are participating throughout 2019.
The course provides the students with more employment opportunities and builds confidence and self-belief, having a positive impact on their everyday lives, and their families lives.
CENTRAL OTAGO YOUTH PILOT EMPLOYMENT PROJECT
Successful Start to Youth Employment Programme Initiative
“As we know, school isn’t for everyone”, Melanie Mills, the Employment Project’s Programme Manager says. “This programme is for any young person who has become disengaged from their learning, for whatever reason, to help them find out what they are passionate about and might like to ‘do’ and then help them get there.” Both students currently enrolled in the programme, have already determined their career path and are passionate about what they want to do with their future. It’s success so far is encouraging for the programme to continue beyond the 18 month pilot.
The programme has an education focus, with a structured and supported pathway into local employment and focuses on students aged between 13-16. Melanie says the aim is to personalise a vocational pathway for these students.
“I have been working as a building labourer. Me being able to do the project has changed my life a lot. I used to just sit in class muck around and wouldn’t learn anything cos I wouldn’t be allowed in class but when I’m on site its good cos the guys I work with are really helpful, they are always giving me heaps of information and their methods and little tricks.” - Youth Programme Student
CLT TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIPS
"Young minds rewarded for efforts
Fifty students from nine secondary schools were presented Central Lakes Trust tertiary education scholarships in 2017, each valued at $2,500. Over the years 384 young people have received the benefit of a CLT scholarship, a total amount of $926,500.
The scholarships aim to assist students from our region to study at a tertiary institution.
A grateful recipient says, “...The Central Lakes Trust Scholarship Programme is a great scholarship programme that gives a large number of students from the Central District a reward for the efforts they have put in through their years of school along with a financial aid to begin tertiary study.... Once again thank you to the Central Lakes Trust for this scholarship.”
Applicants must be between 16 - 19 years of age and have lived in the Central Lakes Trust region for a minimum of two years at the time of application. The selection criteria consider various factors including the applicant’s academic record, all-round qualities and achievements.
Saturday Lifeskills- CO REAP
"Cromwell's Saturday Lifeskills class is going really well. 10 are attending and really engaged with new learning, including cooking, as the photo shows. Thanks again to CLT for the funding for this programme." - Bernice Lepper Manager CO REAP
CO REAP - STAR PROGRAMME
Pictured above is a Wanaka class with their self-made neurons transmitting electrical pulses through synapses
"On behalf of Central Otago REAP, I wish to thank you for the grant. This will be a valuable contribution towards the costs of the STAR one day school for gifted and talented children as well as the Adult Literacy courses. These programmes do make a difference, and many students' lives have been enhanced through access to these education opportunities."
- Dr. Roger Browne, Chair, CO REAP
GOLDFIELDS PRIMARY BIBLES IN SCHOOLS
"I would like to express our gratitude of the recent grant from your Trust. Your generosity will allow the Bible In Schools programme to continue for the 2018 year at Goldfields School."
- Noeline Watson - Combined Churches Cromwell
Wanaka Toy Library
"The Wanaka Toy Library would like to say a huge thank you to The Central Lakes Trust for approving our grant for more toys for the Libraries collection.... The items that were purchased have already given many families such great enjoyment."
CROMWELL KINDERGARTEN
"The Cromwell Kindergarten Committee is incredibly proud of the wonderful new spaces we have been able to create with the Central Lakes Trust's support. The transformation of our new Whanau room and Front Play Areas are amazing and will be enjoyed by our kindergarten whanau and tamariki for many years to come."
- Jo Ridder, President, Kidsfirst Cromwell Kindergarten Committee
SHOTOVER PRIMARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND
"The challenge of raising funds for a playground, on top of opening an entirely new school, seemed almost too big to contemplate. To receive such a generous grant from the Trust has been a phenomenal boost for our school and community. Our goal is to teach the whole child - cognitive, physical, emotional, social - and the playground is an essential component of our curriculum as well as an incredibly valuable resource for our whole community. We are hugely appreciative of the work of the Central Lakes Trust and the opportunities that you bring to the district."
- Sarah Jones, Board Chair, Shotover Primary School
OTAGO POLYTECH - CENTRAL CAMPUS TRADES ACADEMY
"I would like to thank the Central Lakes Trust for its recent decision to contribute $170,000 to our Cromwell Campus trades academy development. We are very committed to enhancing secondary- tertiary pathways and the trades academy is an important part of our commitment to Central Otago youth."
- Phil Ker, Chief Executive, Otago Polytechnic