News from the Family Help Trust

Index

> Contact increases financial support
> Netballers provide support for FHT
> Judge Andrew Becroft new co-patron
> YourFastShop helps FHT fundraising
> Contact to provide sponsorship

For earlier Trust news,
view news archives.

Contact Energy increases support for Family Help Trust
August 26th, 2007

Contact Energy has announced that it will commit an extra $60,000 over two years towards research being undertaken by the Family Help Trust to further establish the effectiveness of its programme. The extra funding, announced at the "Kids Should Have a Ball" Charity event at the Christchurch Town Hall, is additional to the $30,000 per year Contact already commits to the Trust's day to day operations.

Contact Brand Strategy Manager, Pattrick Smellie, said the Trust's research was important as it would help it to develop and improve its work with high-risk families.

"The Family Help Trust offers a successful model of intervention for families in some of the most difficult circumstances in Christchurch. The research will help improve the likelihood of this model being adopted more widely. At a time of great public concern about New Zealand's very high rates of domestic violence and child abuse, the Family Help Trust provides a success story that needs wide telling."

Contact is a gold sponsor for the 'Kids should have a Ball' charity auction - an annual event hosted by the Rotary Club. Read the press release . . .

Goldair Flames call on fans to support Family Help Trust
April 4, 2007

Current Silver Fern and Goldair (Canterbury) Flames captain Julie Seymour is calling on Flames fans to support the Family Help Trust (FHT) at home games. Julie and her husband Dallas are ambassadors for the trust and say it's a great cause all Cantabrians should support. Julie is urging Flames fans to donate a GOLD COIN at GOLDAIR FLAMES home games to ensure the Family Help Trust can continue its great work.

Collectors will be present at the Goldair Flames five home games, against the Diamonds on 7 April, Rebels on 15 April, Flyers on 28 April, Shakers on 26 May, and Sting on 2 June. At the first game just over $200 was collected - a very pleasing result.

Judge Andrew Becroft welcomed as new co-patron
October 11, 2006

His Honour Judge Andrew Becroft was welcomed as our new co-patron, at an event at the Hagley Netball Centre on October 9th, which also featured the release of the Evaluation Report of Family Help Trust - Twelve-Month Outcomes. Judge Andrew Becroft was appointed Principal Youth Court Judge of New Zealand in June 2001.

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and educated at Rongotai College, Wellington, Judge Becroft graduated from Auckland University in 1981 with a B.A./LL.B (Hons) degree. He practised in Auckland with the firm Fortune Manning & Partners.

In 1986 he assisted with the establishment of the Mangere Community Law Centre and worked there as the Centre’s senior solicitor until 1993. He then worked as a criminal barrister in South Auckland until his appointment to the District Court, in Wanganui, in 1996. Judge Becroft is a former council member of the Auckland District Law Society and the New Zealand Law Society. He is a current editor of LexisNexis “Transport Law”.

Judge Becroft is currently the Patron of the New Zealand Speak Easy Association Inc., which assists those with various forms of speech impediment. He is also President of the NZ Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship.

He is married with three children, aged ten, nine and five. Judge Becroft is a keen sports watcher (but an average participant). He is a strong advocate of youth issues.

YourFastShop sponsors FHT via online purchase deals
May 24, 2006

A new online shopping venture, YourFastShop, has accepted Family Help Trust's application for fundraising sponsorship through consumers buying from their virtual store. Now any consumer can purchase good deals at the store and a proportion of the sale price will go to Family Help Trust.
See how it works . . .

Contact Energy to sponsor Family Help Trust
March 8, 2006

Energy retailer Contact Energy will sponsor the Family Help Trust, and will contribute $20,000 a year for three years towards our operating costs. Contact Chief Executive, David Baldwin, says Contact saw the community-based Trust as an effective and practical way to help families in the greatest need.

"As a major energy retailer in Christchurch, we have chosen to support the Family Help Trust as it is a community initiative which makes a real difference to families facing severe hardship. The Trust provides practical assistance where it is needed most, strengthening families so that the children most at risk have a better chance in life," he said. Read the full press release . . .