Whakaatu Whanaunga Trust in Opotiki are providing much needed family support, budgeting and life skills to their community. With the 2011 grant they received from the Tindall Foundation (via funding manager Acorn Foundation), they have been able to assist a growing number of families, empowering them to better manage their resources, through the acquisition of basic skills such as budgeting, cooking to save, clever shopping and growing their own vegetable gardens.
Young school leavers are also learning about rent, board, flatting etc, all important life skills seldom taught in schools. These skills courses are often the catalyst to address other areas of concern that the participants have, be they social, health, housing, employment or education. In this way they are empowering people to manage their lives better, and improve their quality of life.