Turia Misinformed Says Working Women's Resource Centre

We are writing regarding the statement from The Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Tariana Turia, asserting that she will pull $1.5 million a year out of the Community Organisations Grant Scheme to give to five large communities on the grounds that the grants are " not a lot of money and certainly not enough to do anything of real value with".

The Working Women's Resource Centre advises that the Minister is misinformed about the 'real value' provided by small organisations within diverse communities. Even the World Bank has recognised that the contribution and innovation that results from small community organisations being given small sums of money. Their commitment and volunteers multiply the monetary value many times in a way which big community businesses cannot.

The COG's Scheme distributes grants to many and varied worthwhile organizations, including ourselves, that often run on the smell of an oily rag and the money we are granted enables the continuation of work that might otherwise not get accomplished.

Ros Hiini

Organiser

Working Women's Resource Centre

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