Life to the Max gets transport

WHEELS: Scott Brown (left) and Ed Boyd (third from left) with Life to the Max staff Liz Hoskin, Annie Firaza, Alex Pirikahu, Paul Hausia and Val Overweel. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

Life to the Max is a social work practice-based Police Youth Development programme that started working with children, young people and their families in Whanganui 16 years ago. They are still going strong and while most of it is due to the dedicated, skilled staff, a lot hinges on community support. Assisting with funding is Four Regions Trust, formerly Powerco Wanganui Trust, but another of their valued supporters is Wanganui Car Centre, which recently helped them into a 10-seater van, vital for their work.

"They have been absolutely wonderful supporters," says Liz Hoskin, Life to the Max admin officer. This is the fourth vehicle the organisation has sourced through Wanganui Car Centre.

"The old van was falling apart," says Liz. "It really needed to be upgraded. I just rang Scott [Brown] and told him what we need and they found this van in Japan for us. He gave us a good trade-in, an awesome price and he's supported us with money towards it so we can have exactly what we need."

Scott remembers the business's first contact with Life to the Max.
"Initially, they were looking for a van and we made a connection. They stayed loyal to us and we stayed loyal to them," he says. "Being community oriented and putting things back into the community is what makes Whanganui special."

The Nissan Caravan 10-seater van is used to take children or family groups on outings or appointments, holiday programmes and general transport of a large numbers of people.
"Part of the programme is about aspiration, so it might be used to take a group to Massy University in Palmerston North to show them that anyone can go there. It doesn't matter who you are, anyone can have those opportunities," says service manager Annie Firaza.
As well as fun trips up the mountain or to other cities, groups have travelled to the Police College where they've been shown the different side of policing.

"It's about families who don't have opportunities and are wanting to make right - it's giving them new experiences and showing them there are things they can be doing that don't have to cost money," says Annie. She says outcomes are positive and there is a high success rate. "It's about reducing risk." She says there are two rules: respect and fun.

Four Regions Trust representative and trustee Ed Boyd praises Wanganui Car Centre as a local, family-owned business with strong values and a community commitment.