Telethon grant for school project

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 12

Telethon grant for school project

A scheme to promote community service programmes in Christchurch secondary schools has been given a $48,000 grant from the 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons Telethon Trust. Mr J. M. Strang, a Westland High School teacher, has been seconded to the Education Department in Christchurch to create an advisory service for the scheme. During the next two years he will assist and advise schools and institutions in the development or expansion of community service programmes. Through the programme, students will be taught to respond to the needs of the elderly, disabled, and young people with problems. Mr Strang aims to help teachers use the community more as a teaching resource. “Social studies is not just sitting in the classroom,”, he said. He will set guidelines for teachers wanting to use the community and will show institutions and community groups how to use volunteers from high schools. Several pilot projects will also be started and their effectiveness monitored. More than 20 high schools in Christchurch are interested in expanding their community projects.

Mr Strang hopes that after two years, a network of communication between schools, community grouos and institutions would have developed to keep the programme running. Mr Strang’s grant was included in the latest list of grants made by the Telethon Trust. Other grants made to Canterbury organisations were: The Salvation Army, to provide an occupational therapy service, $9OOO. Christchurch City Council, support for the "Roadshow” production, $5OOO. Allenvale School Committee, to meet the transport costs of erecting a relocatable classroom at the school for special activities, up to $5OOO. Templeton Hospital Welfare Council, costs of establishing an adventure playground, $3OOO. Christchurch Children’s Holiday Camps Trust, funds towards sponsoring disabled children who would not otherwise be able to attend a holiday camp, $2OOO. Alienvale School Committee, a piano, $BOO. Allenvale School Committee, an adventure playground, $lOOO. Canterbury Outward Bounders Association, running costs for camps, $3OO. Challenge One. funds towards equipment for disabled people and staff training course, $2500. Rotary Club of Riccarton, provision of a specially designed caravan for the Canterbury Paraplegic Association, $2OOO. Canterbury Paraplegics’ Air Weapons Club, to purchase tar-

gets, air weapons, and upgrade club facilities, $5OO. Association for Disabled Skiers. Christchurch branch, annual costs, $3OOO. Adult Cerebral Palsy Society, to refurnish and redecorate the society's hostel, $3OOO. Kaiapoi Borough Council. Public Library, purchase of books for disabled persons, large print books, and special books for new adult readers, $l5OO. Timaru Toy Library for Children with Special Needs, to extend the range of therapeutic toys, $5OO. Toy Library Association of Christchurch, assistance for specific needs, $3OOO. Mr David Richardson and Miss ‘ Cos Ter Veer, to develop aids for disabled people for trial at the Burwood Hospital spinal unit, $5OOO. Oxford and Districts Medical Services Committee, support for health centre and workshop, $BOO. A further 12 grants were made in Canterbury to disabled individuals for equipment, home improvements, and the cost of welfare work. Grants made to West Coast groups were: I.H.C. Buller branch, to sponsor workshop trainees to attend a course at Anakiwa, $l5OO. Rotary Club of Reefton. ablution block for disabled people at a camping ground and travel costs for a volunteer” worker, $2700. Westland Hospital Management Committee, towards purchase of a minibus for transport of patients on outings. $5OOO. Buller Hospital comforts committee. general support, $lOOO.