20 March 2006
Efforts to reduce violence in our community have been given a financial boost with voluntary sector funder ASB Trusts
putting almost $300,000 into several key projects.
The grantmaker has put $112,000 into Northland’s Miriam Centre Child Abuse Research and Treatment Unit Trust, which
works to overcome violence and abuse across the Northland region.
ASB Trusts’ CEO Jennifer Gill said the centre has worked with more than 11,000 children and families/whanau over the
past 18 years and has been proactive in schools and the community.
Its Wrap-Around programme works with children who are displaying extreme anger and violence in their school, family or
community.
These are children of primary school age who are pulling weapons on teachers and peers, going to school under the
influence of drugs, abduction and sexual violence against younger children, intimidation and bullying and extreme
physical assaults, not only against their peers and families, but making public areas unsafe.
These children exhibit a poverty of compassion and hope.
The Miriam Centre team work intensively with children, their families/whanau, teachers, principals and communities to
empower them to identify, face and address what are frequently entrenched intergenerational issues and thus to move
towards non-violent, safe and compassionate lives.
Meanwhile, Preventing Violence in Homes has been granted $150,000 for its work, which includes crisis response teams, a
telephone crisis line, advocacy services and community education.
The work of this group, formerly known as the Domestic Violence Centre, has received ongoing support from the ASB
Trusts, which has granted it almost $500,000 since 1999.
The work of Violence Free Waitakere has also gained a grant, with $23,898 going to its community awareness project.
Previously known as Zero Tolerance to Violence, the group aims to create awareness of the effects and causes of
violence. It provides education and support for peaceful conflict resolution, assisting clubs, schools and workplaces in
Waitakere.
The ASB Trusts decides on grants to community groups each month. At their February meeting trustees approved grants
worth a total of $4.5 million for projects in education, the arts, sport, recreation, health and social services areas.
It is part of about $50 million given to community groups in Auckland and Northland each year.
Founded on the sale of shares in the ASB bank, the ASB Trusts has granted more than $400m since being formed in 1988.
Any incorporated or charitable trust can apply for funds, provided they are a not-for-profit organisation. For more
details about applying, visit the ASB Trusts’ website: www.asbtrusts.org.nz
ENDS