Trust puts $25,000 towards expansion

An expansion of the Napier Family Centre's Sunny Days Early Childhood Education Centre is on the way, with the help of a $25,000 grant from the Eastern and Central Community Trust.

The grant, one of several announced by trust manager Bev Watkins yesterday, will be part of about $40,000 needed for the development of a whanau room at the pre-school facility in Barker Rd, Marewa.

Family centre funding and communications officer Kath Curran said it would help provide facilities for assisting parents and caregivers without their having to go to "yet another" while their young were already at the centre.

The community trust said it would make "valuable community help for young families more accessible".

The family centre, which has its headquarters on the corner of Morris Spence Ave and Wycliffe St, Onekawa, provides support for about 2000 families annually.

The early childhood centre at the moment caters for up to 48 children aged from 2 to 5 years of age.

The Hawke's Bay Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, off Higgins St, Marewa, also received $25,000.

The money will be put towards the club's costs of reinforcing foundations and resurfacing of five courts.

The Rescue Helicopter Trust will receive $20,000 to buy an upgraded ventilator and monitor to replace equipment which is more than 10 years old. The funding is the latest of a series of grants to the helicopter trust totalling $195,000 over the last 16 years.

The Hawke's Bay Squash Racquet Club, in Niven St, Onekawa, was granted $8000 as part of the fundraising for new showering and toilet facilities.

The trust is an independent charitable trust responsible for funds emanating from former trustee savings banks in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, Manawatu and Horowhenua.