Funding groups coalesce around social needs

TECT general manager Wayne Werder

Three of the Western Bay's biggest funding groups are working together to help create meaningful change in housing, economic development and youth engagement.

BayTrust, Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust (TECT) and the Acorn Foundation collectively grant about $15 million to more than 300 Bay of Plenty community groups each year, but all three organisations believe they can make an even bigger difference by working closer together.

BayTrust chief executive Alastair Rhodes said the organisations would remain separate entities but would collaborate more.

"By looking at issues together we're confident we can achieve better community outcomes and make a bigger impact," he said.

Housing issues, as identified by the Vital Signs research carried out by the groups, is one area they were all committed to.

All three funders have supported Tawanui Community Housing with grants and low-interest social loans for a range of developments, including its Clarke St housing project near Tauranga Hospital.

This had allowed Tawanui to build 14 one- and two-bedroom units for people who had struggled to find housing due to health, disability, financial or social needs.

TECT and the Acorn Foundation had also given substantial grants to help establish the Tauranga Moana Night Shelter Trust to help alleviate housing issues in the city.

BayTrust was supporting healthy homes assessments and providing low-interest social loans to Habitat for Humanity. And TECT continued to subsidise a home insulation programme, having donated more than $2 million to insulate nearly 2200 local homes in the past decade.

TECT general manager Wayne Werder (pictured) said housing was a complex issue and the group's contributions were a starting point.

"Now is an appropriate time to pool our collective wisdom and be more aware of what each other is doing - to understand where the needs are and how we can make the biggest impact. The groups we support are the backbone of the community sector and usually have limited funding options. We all want to help them be as effective as possible."