Youth Minister Nikki Kaye has signalled two rounds of funding for lgbti youth group initiatives are just a start. The National Party team on stage at yesterday's Big Gay Out The lgbti-supportive Auckland Central MP was at the Big Gay Out once again yesterday, a day after announcing a further $85,000 small grants fund for lgbti youth support services. It comes on the back of $60,000 injection from the Youth Ministry, which was spread between 23 organisations. They ranged from the well-established Rainbow Youth, to newcomers like EquAsian, and to support groups in main centres as well as places like Hastings and Timaru. “The initial round, we gave out about $60,000 worth of funding. But what I could see what there were a lot more organisations that had applied. That’s why I announced another $85,000 – because I could see the need,” Kaye told GayNZ.com Daily News at the Big Gay Out. “But what’s important is that it doesn’t stop there.” Kaye says she has been speaking officials from various ministries, including Health and Education, about what they can do to help the sustainability of the youth organisations long-term. Kaye was delighted to see the range of groups which applied for funding in the first round. “I think there are some long-established groups like RainbowYOUTH that we hear from. But there are actually a whole lot of little small groups right across New Zealand, and part of that process is about recognising them. It’s not just about the money, it’s about actually saying we realise the work that you do, we recognise you, we want to support you.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 9th February 2015 - 1:02pm