The Trust has recently appointed Community Development Advisor Terri Eggleton who will be in Katikati, Te Puke and Maketu during March to help groups with funding advice and to find out how the Trust can assist groups overcome problems they may be facing in addressing needs in their communities.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council's community development team has helped organise the meetings in its role of helping community groups achieve their goals and to source funding.

Terri encourages community group representatives to attend the meetings.

"This is very much a two-way process,'' explains Terri. “While we will advise groups about BayTrust funding and find out what problems the groups may be facing, we also want to hear from groups how the Trust can improve its processes to be more helpful to the community."

BayTrust (originally the Trust Bank Bay of Plenty Community Trust) has approximately $130 million invested locally and globally. It is the returns from these investments that provide the Trust its income.

The Trust then distributes this income through grants to a diverse range of non-profit community groups in the Bay including sporting, social, health, education, cultural, arts and community development groups.

Last financial year (2009) the Trust paid out more than $2.6 million to Bay of Plenty communities.

This is a great chance for groups to source excellent advice and guidance and to get to know how BayTrust works for the community. Trustees will also be at the meetings.

Meeting dates and venues:

Katikati:
Monday, 8 March, 9.00am - noon in the Memorial Hall Lounge.

Te Puke:
Tuesday, 23 March, 9.00am - 4.00pm in the Western Bay of Plenty District Council offices.

Maketu:
Monday 29 March, 9.00am - noon in the Community Centre, Wilson Road.