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Mayor's Welfare Fund reports steady half year
Just under 950 people asked for help from the Mayor’s Welfare Fund
in the first six months of 2002. That was about the same number as
in the first half of 2001. The fund gave $96,753 for the half year, up by
$1784. Of those who applied for help, 556 were given some money from
the fund and another 372 were given other assistance by fund officers.
The Fund is a ratepayer-funded charitable trust which gives relief to
Christchurch residents and visitors suffering hardship or distress. It
helps pay for rent, electricity, clothing, medical expenses, child
enrichment and childcare. The City Council puts in $200,000 a year and provides for its
administration. Last year, in addition to the Council grant, the Fund
received $40,000 from the Community Trust to help the Fund’s Child
Enrichment scheme, more than $16,000 in donations from individuals,
businesses and other trusts and about $42,400 in interest, most of
which was generated by a bequest to the fund that has been invested
for some years. In the first six months of this year, the highest demands on the fund
were for help with paying rent ($31,700), electricity and firewood
($23,400), furniture ($5100), medical ($3500) and phone ($2400). The Child Enrichment Fund paid out about $22,500. It distributes
money so children get the same opportunity as others to take part in
things like school camps and trips, or travel to sporting and cultural
events. It also subsidises childcare costs for children in at-risk situations. The Making it Happen Fund – which aims to help people make the
most of their talents and abilities and ensure that rare opportunities
are not lost through lack of funding – distributed a little under $2900. |