Press Release from Bruce Grant Youth Trust

23 November 2009

Youth trust delivers funds to local youth

More than $20,000 has been distributed to 28 applicants as part of the Bruce Grant Youth Trust’s latest funding round.  The number of applicants and money granted are the most ever in the Trust’s 14 year history.

Chairman Andrew Brinsley put the increase in applications down to two reasons. Firstly the Trust’s profile had lifted in the past year, particularly since its high profile involvement in the American Express Winter Festival, and secondly the growing needs of an expanding community. He said the issue now facing the Trust was sourcing enough funds to meet the demands of a higher number of applicants.

“In this funding round we gave away nearly half of our total funds.  This means we need to get some serious fundraising underway to continue supporting the youth of our district.”

Receiving funding in the latest round were athletes who were reaching national and international levels, including several the Trust has supported for some years.

They include Erin Astin, a Sting development team member, whose goal is to become a Silver Fern, Ben McLachlan who is a top flight tennis player aiming to win an Under 18 Grand Slam, free skier Matt Soundy who wants to be ranked in the top 20 slopestyle skiers in the world, alpine ski racers Adam Barwood, Taylor Rapley, Harriet Miller-Brown and Andrew Wylie and snowboarder Hamish Bagley who are all aiming for the 2014 Russia Winter Olympics, free skier Mitchey Greig who is working towards the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Ice hockey players, equestrians, basketballer, multisport athlete, rugby player, karate practitioner and an artist were also represented in the successful applicants.

Mr Brinsley said the Trust had several ideas for on going fundraising activities but was keen to hear from anyone who was keen to work with a charity to support Wakatipu Youth.

“We’re seeing more and more demand and it’s our goal to support youth in whatever field their talents lie.  There are not many charities that encourage individuals to strive for their goals.  We believe this work is important.”

Applications for the next funding round open in [April 2010].

The full list of recipients is as follows:

Luke Aston – Basketball

Erin Aston – Netball

Anna Nesbit – Equestrian

Charles Miller-Brown - Equestrian

Harriet Miller-Brown - Skiing

Emily Good – Equestrian

Holly Sinclair - Equestrian

Adam Barwood – Skiing

Matt Soundy – Freeskiing

Taylor Rapley – Skiing

Andrew Wylie – Skiing

Melissa Jones - Skiing

Hamish Bagley - Snowboarding

Mitchey Greig – Skiier Cross

Rebecca Hasselman - Art

Brett Anderson - Rugby

Harry James - Tennis

Ben McLachlan - Tennis

Connor Harrison – Ice hockey

Mitchell Frear – Ice Hockey

Cameron Frear – Ice Hockey

Lachlan Frear – Ice Hockey

Amelia Kinnaird – Triathlon

Anna Leat – Karate

Grants were also made to the following organisations and clubs:

Queenstown Hockey Club

Queenstown Swimming Club

Wakatipu High School Mixed Tennis Team

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