A major research project into how best to support Bay of Plenty children in the first 1000 days of their lives, and how to engage youth in the region, has identified significant opportunities for BayTrust to invest strategically for the region's future success.
"BayTrust provides around $2 million in grants to a wide range of community initiatives each year," the Trust's Community Development Advisor, Terri Eggleton, said.
"We want to make sure that our grants go to where they will have the greatest impact to help us build, strengthen and enhance our region's communities."
"Our strategic plan identified the first 1000 days and youth engagement as focus areas where investment by the Trust could make a difference. What we needed was quality information on where investment would have the biggest social impact."
BayTrust, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and the Community Response Forum, commissioned research to identify opportunities. The research project combined local knowledge of what was happening for children and youth in the region with an expert review of national and international research on successful first 1000 days and youth engagement initiatives.