Growing confidence in Miranda trust

FRANKLIN COUNTY NEWS

DEDICATED TEAM: Part of the team who run Te Whangai Trust, in the nursery created by workers many would deem unemployable, back from left, technical and plant consultant Bill Ward and supervisor Sandy Simmons, with supervisor Tracey Bailey, front, and trust founder Adrienne Dalton.

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A Franklin-based trust looking to get people off benefits and into work is starting to find its feet and needs a bit of support  but not charity  from the community.

Miranda's Te Whangai Trust, started by Adrienne and Gary Dalton, is a charitable organisation with a difference.

It is based on a sustainable business model, and hopes to be self-sufficient by the end of its third year.
The basis of Te Whangai is a nursery created and run by people who have been on benefits and out of the workforce for a long time.

Te Whangai means to adopt or nurture and employees are advocated for by the trust and taught basic work, social and life skills in a family-like environment, says Adrienne.

Native trees  are sold to ratepayer and taxpayer-funded organisations and anyone struggling with environmental compliance costs, such as farms or businesses that must carry out replanting.
They buy the trees and receive a complimentary planting plan and the labour to plant them.

Because the trust is not-for-profit, it can offer this whole package for less than it would cost to buy just the plants from a commercial nursery.

The pilot project is proving successful  in the seven months the trust has been running jobs have been found for nine people who would otherwise be on a benefit.

Feedback from organisations like Work and Income and the Ministry of Social Development has been very positive, says Adrienne.

As confidence in their enterprise builds, they need help to develop it further.

``We want to instil in our workers that there is no free ride in life, and whatever you want you have to work for. We will employ that philosophy with any assistance that we can get,'' says Adrienne.
As well as some financial help, the trust would appreciate business mentoring or advice, and is in desperate need of some buildings that could be supplied at cost price.

Te Whangai was set up last year after Adrienne and Gary's daughter Leigh died; they wanted to find a way to continue her passion for people and the environment.

Adrienne can spend up to 16 hours a day helping workers sort through their issues, which may range from a single mum finding it hard to return to the workforce, through to someone battling an addiction. After about six months at the nursery, workers decide what career they would like to pursue, and the trust helps them find a job.

The Daltons have been  impressed by the loyalty and hard work shown by their employees.
``They pick it up because we care about them, and if you care about them, they care about you,'' says Adrienne.

The trust can be contacted on 232-7725.

- © Fairfax NZ News