Generous donation to launch new "Youth Development Fund"

Top of the South Community Foundation is excited to launch 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. 

The new endowment has been established thanks to seed capital from Pam Holyoake, who wanted to establish a legacy in remembrance of her late husband, Peter Holyoake.  Peter and Pam lived in the Tasman region for many years and Pam wanted to give back to the wider community, but 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 builder”, Pam said.  “But after discussions with Gavin Larsen from the Foundation, I’m very happy that Peter’s and my donation will make a difference to local young people in need”, she added.

The first school to benefit from the fund will be Motueka High School.  John Prestige, Principal of Motueka High School said “There is a need currently to employ resources that focus on our year 10-12 students who are at school one day, and then simply do not return.  There can be a variety of reasons on 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 included 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 made an additional contribution to Motueka High School in 2022, and this has been matched by local financial services provider and sponsor of the Foundation, NBS.  Howie Timms, General Manager Commercial 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”. 

Gavin Larsen, Executive Officer of the Top of the South Community Foundation pointed to this initiative as another example of people throughout our region making active decisions to support their community.  “These are challenging times for everyone, and we’re thrilled to be assisting our local colleges in this targeted way.  I want to reiterate that this new fund would not have been possible without the extremely generous gift that Pam Holyoake has made, and we sincerely thank her."

To read more about the Foundation's established funds, visit the Top of the South Community Foundation website.