News
Joanne Gomez
Parish groups, agencies and Church organisations that provide a helping hand by supporting families and social services can apply for the annual Tindall Funding through the Archdiocesan Allocation Committee.
Tindall Funding is enabled through the Tindall Foundation, a private family foundation that gives to organisations and communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand by way of donations, training, capacity building and research, and by partnering with others.
The Archdiocesan Allocation Committee of the Archdiocese of Wellington is a partner. Every year the Committee allocates funds to parish and community groups who apply, such as the following.
The House of Grace, a home in Newlands that works with pregnant young women between the ages of 12 and 23. The House of Grace is able to house four teens with their babies at any one time. It also provides after-care support by continuing to offer support and help in the community once they have left the House. A range of programmes is provided to each teen to assist them develop parenting skills and confidence in looking after a newborn baby.
The Karori Foodbank, managed by five churches from the Karori area and staffed by volunteers to distribute food parcels to needy families.
The Refugee Family Reunification Trust, was established 12 years ago to raise funds to financially assist refugees living in the Greater Wellington region with the costs associated bringing eligible family members to join them in New Zealand. Many are living in refugee camps. The Trust has helped more than 250 families.
The Committee’s priority is to fund Catholic and community organisations working in areas identified as priorities by the Tindall Foundation and that are aligned with Archdiocesan goals. The Committee is charged by the Archbishop with the funding support of groups
committed to social, pastoral, charitable and educational needs in our region.
Applications are judged on the basis of need, resource availability and the fulfillment of set criteria. Applications are now open and are due Friday, 29 August 2014. Application forms and more information can be found at www.wn.catholic.org.nz or by emailing Joanne Gomez at info@wn.catholic.org.nz
House of Grace – a case study
This Trust is becoming a well-known and respected leader in care for pregnant women in Wellington. The Trust was established in 2001 as a non-profit organisation and has since helped over 100 young women to learn life skills and to prepare for parenting or adoption.
The specific funding by the Committee in 2013 was for capacity building to establish the Foundation Director’s role. This role supports volunteers and the ongoing work of the House. Additional grant funding has allowed the employment of relief houseparents so the Director has had time to grow the capacity of the Trust. Highlights in this area attributable to the grant have been:
- media profile in the past 12 months led to significant increase in regular donors;
- social media development with increased interest and referrals;
- increased quality and productivity of all staff and volunteers has increased;
- plans for additional houses in other locations;
- updated policies and procedures being implemented; and
- increased sponsorship, such as 13,000 non-perishable cans from Watties.