November 2022 Recipients
The Blue Door distributed $25,058.88 to not-for-profit organisations and groups in the Marlborough region with the November 2022 funding round.
Recipients were Riverlands School Board of Trustees, Picton Community Centre, Eastern States Speedway, Open Home Foundation, St Andrews Church Childrens’ Programme, RNZ Plunket Blenheim, Supporting Families Marlborough Trust, Marlborough Underwater Hockey, Picton Dawn Chorus, Playcentre Aotearoa (Blenheim), Picton Community Creche Inc, NZ Council of Victim Support Groups Inc, CcS Disability Action Nelson Marlborough Inc, Saints Softball Club, Blenheim Early Childhood Centres Inc, Renwick Taekwondo Club, Life Education Trust Marlborough, Crossroads (Marlborough) Trust, Marlborough MS and Parkinson Society, Simply the Breast Dragon Boat Team, Selmes Garden Charitable Trust, Samoa Aoga Amata Blenheim, Renwick Menz Shed, Marlborough Art Society Inc, Rai Valley Branch Rural Women NZ
Volunteer helpers of St Andrews Church Childrens’ Programme responded to a request last year to start a sewing group for children. ‘While old machines were available they proved to be unreliable and so we used Blue Door funds to buy sewing equipment and then machines as well as a few other craft items,’ said Marion Rowe. ‘We have made a commitment that all crafts taught will impart skills the children can use later, for example handmade gifts, basic cooking, using a hammer, showing how to use cheap items to create something useful.’
Being aware that many families cannot afford after school activities, the St Andrews Church Childrens’ Programme has no charge, is run by volunteers and much of the material is donated. Marion commented that they are very grateful to the Blue Door as very few other funding organisations allocate funds to Church groups.
Blenheim Early Childhood Centres representative, Jo Dewe, said Uptown Preschool has recently been re-licensed to include under-2 children with their existing over-2 children. This has required them to purchase new resources for both the indoor and outdoor environments, including an outdoor playground structure. By utilizing the Blue Door grant money they have created an age appropriate and safe playground structure for young children to explore and play on. ‘Thank you so much to the Blue Door for this generous donation’.
Remember to keep an eye on the Blue Door web or facebook pages for the next round of funding applications. Not-for-profit Marlborough groups or organisations are eligible to apply.