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Wellington Airport awards community volunteers


23 September 2010

Wellington Airport awards community volunteers

Wellington Airport, in association with The Community Trust of Wellington, awarded the Supreme Award for voluntary work in the community to Naenae Youth Charitable Trust for Billy Graham Boxing Academy at the 2010 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards.

The awards were presented by Hon Paula Bennett, Minister for Social Development and Employment, at a celebration dinner held at Wellington Airport.

Naenae Youth Charitable Trust for Billy Graham Boxing Academy offer programmes and facilities to help and support the physical, social and educational development of Lower Hutt youth, including those who are socially disadvantaged, and from dysfunctional families. Each year around ninety 11 - 18 year old males participate in the boxing academy programme.

The four other finalists for the Supreme Award were:

- Te Horo Hall Society from Kapiti - Hutt Valley Teen Parent Programme from Upper Hutt - "Places for Penguins" Wgtn Forest & Bird Branch from Wellington City - Mana Community Enterprise from Porirua

"We invest heavily in the communities where we operate and we believe that positive relationships and involvement in communities where our business is based is a good investment," said Steve Fitzgerald, Wellington Airport CEO.

"Volunteers are at the heart of our community and Wellington Airport understands this. These awards give volunteers the recognition they really deserve," said Mr Fitzgerald.

The Community Awards are a journey that begins at the municipal level with Wellington's five councils awarding volunteer organisations in their local community and the finalists announced at the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards.

Naenae Youth Charitable Trust for Billy Graham Boxing Academy receives an all expenses paid trip to the TrustPower National Awards to be held in Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga Districts from 18 - 20 March 2011. The TrustPower National Community Awards started in 2000.

There are five categories for the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards.

The 2009 Category winners are: A. Heritage and Environment: Mana Recovery B. Health and Wellbeing: Wellington Hospitals & Health Foundation C. Arts and Culture: Kapiti Coast University of the Third Age (Kaleidesope Programme) D. Sport and Leisure: Naenae Youth Charitable Trust for Billy Graham Boxing Academy E. Education and Child/Youth Development: Hutt Valley Teen Parent Programme

A. Heritage and Environment - Mana Recovery Mana Recovery provides social and employment outcomes for people with mental health needs in the Wellington and Porirua region based on respect and empowerment. The activities are centre around environmental sustainability and resource recovery. Along with giving new life to discarded goods at the Trash Palace shop, Mana Recovery educates the community on sustainability through the education centre, and the reduce reuse recycle programme it runs with local schools. In the past year over 150 tonnes of material was diverted from landfill.

B. Health & Wellbeing - Wellington Hospitals & Health Foundation The Wellington Hospitals & Health Foundation provides improved comfort and welfare to patients and their families at Wellington Hospital, Kenepuru Hospital and the Kapiti Health Centres. Wellington Hospital volunteers have been providing services since 1927 with numbers growing to 400 volunteers this past year. They include the Pink Ladies, Ward Volunteers, Emergency Department Volunteers, Library Volunteers, Hospital Guides, artists and musicians.

C. Arts and Culture - Kapiti Coast University of the Third Age (Kaleidesope Programme) The Kapiti Coast University of the Third Age Kaleidoscope programme has been presenting a regular series of weekly guest speakers since 2003. A wide variety of arts and culture topics are presented, including writing, poetry, dance, marketing, along with broader science, health, history, industry and commerce themes. Recent guest speakers include Bill Hastings Chief Film Censor and Sir John Trimmer. The programme is very popular amongst the lively minds of Kapiti's retired community.

D. Sport & Leisure - Naenae Youth Charitable Trust for Billy Graham Boxing Academy The programmes and facilities offered by the Naenae Youth Charitable Trust (founded by local man Billy Graham) help and support the physical, social and educational development of Lower Hutt youth, including those who are socially disadvantaged, and from dysfunctional families. Each year around ninety 11 - 18 year old males participate in the boxing academy programme.

E. Educational & Child/Youth Development - Hutt Valley Teen Parent Programme The Hutt Valley Teen Parent Programme maintains and develops the education training paths of teenage parents beyond the birth of their children, fostering positive parenting skills, enhancing self esteems and employment prospects of participants. The school operates 5 days a week, with an early education centre attached and bus services to get the students and their children to school. Volunteers provide an important part of the service, assisting students in the classroom with their studies, mentoring life and parenting skills and helping students transitioning into working life.

ENDS

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