Half a million distributed at Lottery Welfare’s final national meeting

15/6/2004

The Lottery Welfare Committee has approved more than $500,000 for national projects designed to improve participation and wellbeing in New Zealand communities.

The committee considers applications from not-for-profit welfare organisations that provide social services.

Grants made in this funding round include:

• $15,000 to Supergrans Aotearoa for a national co-ordinator’s salary, operating and travel costs.

Lottery Grants Board Acting Secretary Morag Osborne says Supergrans is a national volunteer service that provides low-income families and individuals with practical homecare advice and life skills.

“It recorded more than 15,000 contacts last year, and demand for Supergrans support services is growing steadily. The group now has nine branches around the country, and this grant will help the group to standardise its national operations and prepare for future growth.”

• $17,000 to the New Zealand Endometriosis Foundation for a national co-ordinator’s salary and administration costs.

“Endometriosis effects an estimated one in five girls and women in New Zealand, and the Endometriosis Foundation has set the standard for education and awareness of this disease,” Morag Osborne says.

“This year the group hopes to distribute information in several Asian languages and conduct endometriosis support meetings for under-21s in Canterbury.”

• $10,500 to the NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations for volunteer expenses

“This group is made up of voluntary social service organisations representing a diverse range of interests, such as children, young people, families, people with disabilities, health, education and new migrants,” Morag Osborne says.

“The Federation focuses on informing and connecting these groups around common issues and concerns, and this grant recognises the important role volunteer support plays in keeping social sector networks vital.”

These grants were made at the final meeting of Lottery Welfare’s national committee.

Morag Osborne says a change in the structure of the Lottery Grants Board distribution committees means applications for social sector grants will now be considered by a Lottery Community Committee.

“The simplified committee structure will put more emphasis on long-term community and regional development, and will save $1 million a year in administration costs. These savings will be returned to communities,” she says.

In 2002-2003 Lottery Welfare’s national and regional committees received more than $10,000,000 from the Lottery Grants Board to distribute to community social service projects and organisations.

Outside of direct Government contributions, Lottery funds are the most significant source of community development funding in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Lotteries Commission funds the Lottery Grants Board.

For more information on Lottery Grants visit www.cdgo.govt.nz, www.dia.govt.nz or call 0800 824 824.


Contacts:

Claire Hall, communications advisor, NZ Lottery Grants Board
(04) 495-7299 or 027 284 4228

Supergrans
Peter Burt, (04) 566-9778

NZ Endometriosis Foundation
Deborah Bush, (03) 379-7959

NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations
Tina Reid, (04) 385-0981