T R U S T W A I K A T O
A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 1 / 2 0 1 2
Strategic Partner
Poverty Action Waikato
Project
Improving the quality of life for families is
important to Trust Waikato. In 2009 we set a
goal to support community based research
and advocacy aimed at reducing poverty in
the region. Together with Anglican Action
we hosted a public meeting in August
2009 to hear from our communities. The
result was overwhelming support for a
poverty research and advocacy project. The
Waikato Poverty Action group was formed
and a three year action research
project established.
Now entering its third year, the project
has achieved several key milestones.
Comprehensive community and literature
based research has been gathered and a
summary publication
Window on Waikato
Poverty
issued. The research identifies the
scale of regional poverty and the impact
it has on our communities. The rising cost
of food, housing and general living costs,
as well as unemployment, particularly for
youth, have placed severe hardship on
people and families/whānau.
Poverty Action Waikato has raised public
awareness of poverty through conference
presentations, other speaking engagements
and significant media activity. A regional
community network is also now firmly
established, providing opportunities for
people to feed in to policy developments at
a national and local level. A copy of
Window
on Waikato Poverty
is available on our
website at
www.trustwaikato.co.nz
.
Response
The research by Poverty Action Waikato
revealed a strong concern in our
communities about the lack of employment
opportunities for young people. As we
started talking with others, we soon
recognised that there is a significant amount
of work going on to address these issues.
There is also growing interest in what more
we might do together in this region.
In March 2012, Trust Waikato hosted a
forum called Our Workforce: Our Youth. The
aim was to bring together people interested
in sector strategies for addressing skills
shortages and youth unemployment. Over
140 participants were able to listen to and
discuss several inspiring presentations.
A highlight was workforce development
consultant Bret Halverson, who shared
valuable insights on effective sector
strategies. C-Me Mentoring Foundation
CEO John Kotoisuva then spoke about its
Trades at School programme now operating
in 14 schools across Auckland. Counties
Manukau DHB’s Jenna Clarke and Christine
Hanley followed with a presentation on
the Grow Our Own Workforce programme
aimed at increasing Māori and Pacific
participation in the professional health
industry. In the afternoon participants had
the opportunity to talk together and share
about the work already being done in the
region and what more we’d like to do.
Since the forum, a number of people
have approached us about developing
programmes which provide a full pipeline
approach. These programmes will link
to opportunities offered in secondary
schools, with ties to tertiary education and
training, and then link to jobs. This kind
of work is significant to those involved in
education, youth and career development,
labour markets and employment, and
local government. It is also of interest to
a number of funders in the philanthropic
sector.
Discussions are continuing with those
parties interested in collaborating across
our interests and responsibilities to improve
the outcomes for both employers and young
people. To find out more visit our website
www.trustwaikato.co.nz
.
Through partnerships
like this, the Trust is
better able to understand
the diverse needs of our
communities
Our Workforce: Our Youth
presenters (L to R):
John Kotoisuva, Anna Cox, Bev
Gatenby, Jenna Clarke, Rose
Black, Christine Hanley, Bret
Halverson, Clint Baddeley and
Dale Williams.
There is evidence that if you reduce poverty
you have a positive effect on many other
challenges for families.
In the Spotlight
Poverty Action Waikato
I n t h e s p o t l i g h t
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