26/4/07

Migrant support groups gain funding

Groups working to help new migrants and refugees settle in to life in New Zealand have gained extra financial support for their work.

Auckland Regional Migrant Services Charitable Trust (ARMS) has been granted $105,000 by community funder ASB Community Trust in its latest round of grants.

ASB Community Trust CEO Jennifer Gill says ARMS is providing very effective support to help new arrivals to overcome obstacles and start a new life in the Auckland Region. Recently ARMS has commenced a programme known as ReactNow to provide employment assistance to people from refugee backgrounds.

“ARMS has identified from research carried out in NZ and overseas that an employment programme which is tailored and targeted at specific needs and strengths of refugees is the most successful model,” she says.

As a result, the ReactNow programme provides individual assessment of job search, employment readiness, English language skills and work skills, while small workshops focus on job search skills, CV preparation and interview skills.

Matching mentors with refugee job seekers is also a key component of the programme. The ReactNow programme is currently targeted at younger women, but the grant will enable it to be extended to other groups over the coming months. Already ARMS has had success in guiding young refugee women into suitable employment.

The Executive Director of ARMS, Dr Mary Dawson says: “With our programmes for migrants and refugees becoming increasingly popular, ARMS has outgrown its space in Three Kings Plaza. The ASB Community Trust funds will allow our organisation to have more space for our refugee services, right next door to our regional centre.”

Another Auckland group working with new New Zealanders, Migrant Support Services (MSS), has been granted nearly $40,000 by the Trust to help with running costs.

“MSS aims to assist refugee and migrant communities by using the expertise and skill which already exists in these communities,” says Ms Gill. “We see this as an important way to empower the community and to building capacity in a culturally appropriate way.”

The Onehunga-based group’s programmes include courses for learner licenses, visual and performing arts programmes, cultural integration programmes, family development programmes dealing with issues such as domestic violence, youth leadership programmes, parenting workshops, Treaty of Waitangi workshops and NZQA approved courses.

MSS Manager Saras Nair says strong ASB Community Trust support has also allowed the service to run programmes such as its popular environmental awareness education course.

“We have taken up programmes on Environmental Awareness/Education for migrants and refugees, as the environment in New Zealand is very different from that where they have come from.

“This includes volunteering for cleaning up, weeding, pest control, educational workshops on identification of protected Flora and Fauna and it has proved to be so popular that workshops have been overbooked.”

Meanwhile, two adult literacy schemes have also gained funding from the Trust. Auckland Adult Literacy Scheme has been granted $53,000 for running costs and equipment, while Kaitaia’s Far North Adult Literacy Trust has been granted $29,360 to help set up a new office in the town.

ASB Community Trust decides on grants for projects in education, the arts, sport, recreation, environment, heritage, health and social services areas each month. About $45 million is granted to community group projects in Auckland and Northland each year.

Founded on the sale of its shares in the ASB bank, the Trust has granted more than $600m 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 Trust’s website: www.ASBCommunityTrust.org.nz

ENDS

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