Recession pinch hits Charities hard
June 8, 2009
Back Up Trust forced to sack nearly all their staff….
Article from Dominion Post 8th June 09
A trust that runs outdoor courses for disabled people has laid off nearly all its staff and will struggle to keep going as its usual funders feel the recession pinch.
Like other trusts, Back Up NZ, based in Napier, relies heavily on grants from charitable and community trusts, many of which have been forced to cut grants.
Trust chairwoman, Kirstin Thompson, said three of the trust’s four contracted staff were laid off on Friday.
“It’s dire. There has been a substantial reduction in funding … traditional funding providers are making it very clear that due to the financial climate there is not anywhere near as much money to go around. Some have said there just won’t be any funding available.”
Mrs Thompson said charitable trusts were more inclined to offer funding for specific individuals rather than fund operational costs.
“But if we haven’t got that operational funding we can’t arrange the courses to put people on. It’s come to a crunch for us.”
One staff member would remain on 20 hours a week until September. The laid-off staff, who were paid for 20 to 35 hours a week, had agreed to work for nothing for now.
The trust, which started in 2002, organises week-long outdoor adventure courses for people with moderate to severe disabilities.
Since the first course in January 2003, more than 400 disabled people aged 10 to 73 have attended courses, with activities such as rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking, tramping, whitewater rafting, and camping.
Some paid their own way or are government funded, others were assisted financially by the trust.
All were matched with an able-bodied “buddy” and Mrs Thompson believed this could be the key to the trust’s future.
“It’s a very rewarding experience and we think there is potential for corporate buy-in. We think we can offer corporates something by offering them places as able-bodied participants. It’s seen as quite a good professional development programme and very rewarding.”
Jeremy Haines, 37, of Havelock North, who became a paraplegic in 1993, said the week-long course was “hugely rewarding”.
“Many of the ideas we have of our limitations are just blown out of the water. And to do it in a group setting is fantastic.”
