Top of the South Community Foundation is excited to announce the launch of a new Nelson Tasman Youth Development Fund.

This fund will support young people to stay in school and to continue their education, or to assist with their transition into the workforce. Distribution of funds will be via local Secondary Schools who will have an opportunity to apply to the Foundation every year to access funding.

Gavin Larsen, Executive Officer of the Top of the South Community Foundation said the new Fund is another example of people throughout our region making active decisions to support their community.

“This exciting new endowment fund has been established thanks to a generous gift from Pam Holyoake, who wanted to establish a legacy in remembrance of her late husband, Peter Holyoake.”

“We sincerely thank Pam for her generosity and vision”, Gavin said.

Peter and Pam lived in the Tasman region for many years and Pam wanted to give back to the wider community, with a focus on supporting young people.

“Initially I wanted to set up something that supported apprenticeships in the building industry, as Peter was a painting contractor. Following discussions though with Gavin at the Foundation, I’m very happy that Peter’s and my donation will make a difference to local young people in need”, Pam said.

The first school to benefit from the Fund will be Motueka High School.  John Prestidge, Principal of Motueka High School said “There is a need currently to employ resources that focus on our year 10-12 students some of whom are at school one day, and then simply do not return. There can be a variety of reasons why this is occurring, from family needs to them simply losing motivation to study. We want to get them back to school and that often takes a lot of quite intensive and personal intervention”.

John gave examples of initiatives that would be funded including paying for a NMIT course or practical on-the-ground industry training to enable a transition into the workforce.

Along with providing the capital, Pam has also made an additional contribution to Motueka High School, and this has been matched by local financial services provider NBS who are a partner of the Foundation. Howie Timms, General Manager - Commercial & Marketing for NBS also contributed to the initial discussions around establishment of this fund.

“Pam is a valued client of NBS, we’ve had a strong relationship with Motueka High School for many years and we support the mahi of the Foundation, so it was great to assist in bringing all parties together to make it happen. I see this new Fund supporting not just Motueka High School but see its potential to grow and to benefit students from schools throughout our region”.

“This fund will become a perfect vehicle for anyone to gift to, at any level, if they wish to see the challenged youth of our community supported further by their colleges”, Howie said.

For more information go to topsouthfoundation.org.nz/making-a-gift/existing-funds