2008 Annual Report - ASB Community Trust

15SECTOR SHOWCASEEducationThe trust will support projects thatimprove educational outcomes forchildren and young people by addingvalue. Our focus is on innovativeprojects that are generally not eligiblefor government funding.Research shows that one in four New Zealanders have a literacyneed. Waitakere Adult Literacy specialises in supportingpeople to access the learning they need, when they need it, andensuring learning is accessible to all.It recently moved to the new premises, allowing it to expand itsservices and establish a youth programme. An ASB Communitygrant helped with operating costs and equipment purchases.www.literacy.org.nzACT ONE – The Otara Boards ForumConcerned about the low educational achievement levels oftheir children, Otara parents set up their own forum in 1996 toshare skills across 13 schools in the area.The Otara Boards Forum now runs a parents as tutorsprogramme, involving 30 parents working in schools with upto 160 children a day. Its board of trustee training sessions helpdevelop skills needed for complex decisions. It runs an annualliteracy celebration day and a parent support programme.It includes a network linking early education providers and,in 2007, it took on the South Auckland truancy contract.The forum organises initiatives for schools with high studentabsence rates and supports families as they look for underlyingfactors contributing to absences.In 2007/08 an ASB Community Trust grant helped the forum withoperating costs and the Parents as Reading Tutors programme.Adding valueIn assessing education sector applications, we look for evidencethat projects will improve outcomes and add value.On our website there are more details about our LearningCommunities Partnership Fund, which supports projects andorganisations that are strengthening education partnerships inthe community.We’d love to hear about projects where communities arefinding innovative ways to meet education needs.The website also has clear policy guidelines for grants inthe education sector, including details of what we fund, andmaximum funding levels, for early childhood education,primary, intermediate and high schools.We also welcome applications for equipment and transport forthe use of students with special needs.ACT TWO – Waitakere Adult LiteracyWaitakere Adult Literacy is using the latest technology to helpstudents improve their literacy skills.With more information, communications and technologyincreasing the literacy skills needed to be able to activelyparticipate in communities, the literacy group has installeda full computer learning suite to develop students’ literacy,numeracy and computer skills.Westmere Easter Sunday ©Photographer Bernie Harfl eet