Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Win Seed Capital for Social Enterprise in Greater Auckland

20 June 2017

Media Release

Win Seed Capital for Social Enterprise in Greater Auckland

The Rotary Club of Newmarket and the Ākina Foundation have joined forces for a second year to kick-start social enterprises in the greater Auckland region with a chance to win $10,000 in cash.

Ākina Foundation Chief Executive, Alex Hannant, welcomed the continued partnership.

“The Rotary Club of Newmarket is a pioneer in philanthropy in New Zealand – they have been a supporter of some of New Zealand’s most valued social causes and it’s fantastic to see them, for the second year running, launch their Social Enterprise Kick-start Award.”

Rotary Newmarket is providing $10,000 for the top venture.

Rotary Newmarket’s, President, Simon Dalton said, “following our very successful first Social Enterprise Challenge won by Resource Rescue we are delighted to partner with Ākina again to offer Social Enterprises seed capital or a kick-start to build their enterprises.”

“As well as providing a cash injection at a time when it makes a real difference, Rotary members offer ongoing support. We can open doors to our networks, provide advice on accessing markets, plus with our members’ wide skill-base and experience, we can assist with hands on mentoring. This was demonstrated last year with our inaugural challenge when a number of the enterprises, as well as the winner, benefitted from our members connections and knowledge” said Mr. Dalton.

Mr. Dalton said that the Rotary Club of Newmarket was one of NZ’s most innovative Rotary clubs. The partnership with Ākina was seen as an opportunity to forge greater links with the wider community and connect with new organisations that have a sustainable social enterprise model.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Rotary has long been a donation giver, however social enterprise presents new opportunities for Rotary to connect with the community and younger people who want to give back to their communities. Social enterprise and Rotary are on the same track and the partnership with Ākina is a way to intersect with a new vibrant emerging sector that is committed to Rotary’s fundamentals of doing good in their communities,” Mr. Dalton said.

“Many of our members are involved in social enterprises and in recent times we have become aware of the burgeoning social enterprise sector from speakers to our club such as Guy Ryan, Young New Zealander of the Year and Inspiring Stories founder, Alex Hannant, CEO Ākina, and Janette Searle, Take My Hands Trust founder,” Mr. Dalton said.

“In another innovative initiative by our club we have just established associate membership. Janette is one of first associate members and is on the committee driving this seed capital kickstarter. Also a number of last year’s finalists have joined as associate members,” Mr. Dalton said.

The Rotary Club of Newmarket was established in 1945 and distributes more than $100,000 per annum to the community and charitable causes. Significant milestones for the club have been the Rotary Centennial Walkway on Motutapu Island, a 25 year involvement with the Motutapu Island Restoration Trust, an Oncology Award for Cancer Research in partnership with the University of Auckland, the annual Circus Quirkus for underprivileged children, and giving 3D printers to low decile schools. Just recently a partnership with the Howard League has been formed to give pictorial dictionaries to prisoners graduating from literacy programmes.

Mr. Hannant said that the Ākina team was excited about this continued opportunity to support social entrepreneurs, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of the Rotary Club of Newmarket.

“We are hopeful this successful partnership will challenge other service groups to get in behind social enterprise as an innovative way to approach our complex social and environmental challenges,” said Mr. Hannant.

Applications are open to all social enterprises, whether early-stage, start-up or more established. To qualify, applicants must be resident in the greater Auckland region although their social enterprise organisation or project may have a local, national, or global impact. Applicants are required to submit a three-minute video along with a short online application form.

Applications for the Rotary Club of Newmarket Social Enterprise Kick-start open on 1 July 2017. Express your interest via email (rotary.kickstart@akina.org.nz) or apply via www.akina.org.nz/rotaryakl2017.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.