Overwhelming community response

The Trust was surprised and delighted by an overwhelming community response after the call went out for expressions of interest in the Maori and Pasifika Education Initiative.

Each proposal has now been through a robust and rigorous process of prioritisation by the Trust’s Maori and Pasifika Selection Committees and initial decisions have been made by ASB Community Trust’s Board. 

Thirty seven applicants have been invited back to take part in the second stage of the selection process.  These groups now have until 16 January 2009 to complete and submit a full proposal, which will also include a detailed business plan outlining how the project will be delivered.

The final list of MPEI projects to be funded will be announced by April 2009.

A further 22 proposals look like projects the Trust might fund through its core grants programme and we have recommended these groups contact our grants advisors about ways they can help.

We understand that groups we have not been able to help will be disappointed, but we want to thank them for supporting the initiative.  Please come back to the MPEI website to keep up with progress.

We would like to continue the korero by also inviting them to visit the Trust website at www.ASBCommunityTrust.org.nz to look for other ways Trust grants might be able to help.

The Trust makes grants across a wide range of sectors and they may still be eligible for funding through the regular grants programme.

Nearly 300 expressions of interest received

There has been an overwhelming level of interest and community response to the MPEI project, with nearly 300 expressions of interest received. To ensure the selection committees have enough time to give each of them full consideration, we are shifting the selection process time out by a month.  You will now be receiving a letter from the Trust regarding the initial outcome of your expression of interest in August, rather than early July as expected. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause your organisation.  If you need clarification or have any queries regarding the timeline extension, please call Moi Becroft, MPEI Project Manager on (09) 361 8224 or email Initiative@ASBCommunityTrust.org.nz

Key dates:

• April 14, 2008: Closing date for expressions of interest
• August 2008: All applicants informed of initial outcome. Those selected to proceed to stage two asked for full business plan
• Sept 2008: All business plans submitted for consideration
• Nov 2008: Project funding decisions announced.

Groundswell response

The Trust has had a groundswell response to its Maori and Pasifika Education Initiative.

Through various mediums, including a series of hui and fono held throughout Auckland and Northland in Marchthe Trust asked the public to come up with ideas that could help raise educational achievements for Maori and Pasifika communities – ideas that the Trust might then be able to help fund.

Almost 300 groups replied, sharing their dreams and outlining how they could make a better future for our young people.

Of the 298 expressions of interest received, 122 targeted the Maori community, 62 targeted the Pasifika community and the remaining 114 targeted both the Maori and Pasifika communities.

The expressions of interest have now gone to our selection committees for consideration. A Maori selection committee was established to consider proposals for Maori and a Pasifika selection committee was established to consider proposals for Pasifika.

The first meeting for each committee took place in May and further meetings are scheduled for June, including a meeting for both selection committees to consider proposals for both Maori and Pasifika.

Both selection committees are looking for proposals that:

•  promote community development opportunities for future growth
• demonstrate innovation (an ‘outside current structures’ approach to education)
• challenge the status quo and/or current Maori and Pasifika education statistics
• demonstrate a collaborative community/school approach
• have community ownership of responsi-bility as well as expectation

How to contact the Project team

• Email: Initiative@ASBCommunityTrust.org.nz

• Phone (09) 360 0291 or freephone 0800 272 878

• Mail: PO Box 68048 Newton, Auckland        

PowerPoint

HERE is a PowerPoint presentation explaining the Initiative (3mb file)