Auckland City Council

Children’s Christmas parties were allocated increased funding from last year, in the citywide grants approved last week by Auckland City Council’s Community Development Committee.

Jo Legge, who has organised Christmas parties for under privileged children for the past four years, received $1500; KIDS Foundation received $1500 for a Christmas party for sick teenagers; Birthright received $1500 for a Christmas party for under privileged children; and the Widows’ and Widowers’ Association received $500 for entertainment and a Christmas party.

Community Development Committee chairperson, Cr Penny Sefuiva, says the $5000 for Christmas is an increase on the amount the previous Council contributed.

"A number of groups have asked for funding for children’s parties and we have attempted to accommodate those requests by spreading the budget further to other community groups, rather than just one individual applicant."

Cr Sefuiva says the Council has approved grants totalling $240,000, compared to last year’s $180,000. It received applications for grants totalling $824,736.

"Clearly, there is increased pressure on the Council’s budget for grants as a result of other funding sources drying up.

"As a result, our emphasis has been on assisting community groups with projects that will have a lasting benefit to the community."

Organisations that received grants that will benefit children were:

Storylines children’s book festival; Young Friends of Opera NZ; Aotea Youth Symphony; Cool Schools parents programme; Youthline counselling services; Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp Trust; and Youthtown.

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