Wednesday, 08 September 2010
THE philanthropy of an 18th century Scottish minister is providing the inspiration for a new initiative to tackle social issues in the Bay of Plenty.
BayTrust – the former Bay of Plenty Community Trust – has today announced a new fund designed to help Bay communities tackle their most difficult problems.
The Henry Duncan Fund has a pool of $500,000 to support projects which existing funding sources may not reach.
The fund honours the founder of savings banks, Scottish Presbyterian minister Henry Duncan, who opened the world’s first savings bank 200 years ago – on May 10, 1810 – in his parish of Ruthwell. His vision of achieving something of lasting value for people led to the establishment of savings banks throughout the world – and, ultimately, to the formation of BayTrust.
“It is now 46 years since the Bay of Plenty Savings Bank was established and 14 years since it was sold, providing almost $90 million as BayTrust’s capital base,” trust chairwoman Paula Thompson said.
Applications to the Henry Duncan Fund should address long-term community issues, such as environmental, economic, cultural, social or health problems.
Mrs Thompson said projects must be community-led and have wide support, preferably involving groups or agencies working together to tackle the issue.
“Trustees believe the fund will encourage innovative, self-help initiatives and BayTrust looks forward to applying this unique funding resource to projects which will help overcome the underlying problems facing Bay of Plenty communities.”
Applicants are invited to lodge expressions of interest by November 12, and trustees will then decide which groups it will invite to apply for funding and negotiate directly with them.
Expressions of interest forms are available on the BayTrust website – www.baytrust.org.nz – or from the trust office.