InsideOUT Supreme Award winners at Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards

National youth leadership organisation, InsideOUT, were the Supreme Award winners at the 2019 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards on Thursday night. They were one of 200 community groups that entered the awards from around the Wellington region.

The organisation was recognised for the role they play in making Aotearoa a safer place for young people of all sexual orientations and genders, giving all rainbow young people a sense of belonging in their schools and communities.

InsideOUT’s mission is to work closely with youth, whānau, schools, community groups, youth services, government agencies and other relevant organisations to provide safer schools and communities for rainbow (LGBTQIA+) young people. Based in Wellington, they develop and share resources, run monthly meetups, champion awareness campaigns and create opportunities for young people to connect throughout the country.

Steve Sanderson, Chief Executive of Wellington Airport said “We first became aware of the great work InsideOUT were doing when they became category award winners in 2016. The calibre of the finalists has been outstanding again this year, but what really stood out for the judges was the progression InsideOUT has made over the past three years. The organisation has gone above and beyond to provide the resources and support schools and communities need to make New Zealand an inclusive place, especially for young people, and they are very deserved winners”.

Tabby Besley, Managing Director of InsideOUT said "It’s amazing to have our growth as an organisation recognised with this award. It represents the work of our team of incredible staff, volunteers and all the rainbow young people in Wellington who are striving for inclusion in their schools".

Roger Palairet, Chair of Wellington Community Trust said: “We are delighted to be involved in the Wellington Airport Community Awards. These awards are a celebration, recognising people who have seen a need in their community and stepped up and found a way to meet that need. They’re also intended as encouragement for all finalists and winners throughout our region, and for anyone reaching out to do something for others. This is what being a strong community is all about, and it is great to celebrate our community at its best.”

Wellington Airport also awarded five local high school students $3,000 scholarships in the Wild at Heart Spirit Awards. These winners demonstrate self-motivation in service to their community and college.

Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards 2019 Winners

• Supreme Award: InsideOUT
• Arts and Culture: Ōtaki Promotions Group
• Education and Child/Youth Development: InsideOUT
• Health and Wellbeing: Little Sprouts Charitable Trust
• Heritage and Environment: HUHA NZ (Helping You Help Animals)
• Sport and Leisure: Porirua Grand Traverse
• Rising Star Award: M.A.T.C.H. The Māoriland Tech Creative Hub

ENDS

Background on the Community Awards

Every year, Wellington Airport, Wellington Community Trust, and the five local councils come together to recognise the work carried out by community groups in the wider Wellington region. The focus of the awards is to celebrate volunteers for their valuable contribution to society.

The awards start with the greater Wellington region’s five councils awarding volunteer organisations in their local community under the following categories: Art & Culture, Education and Child/Youth Development. Health and Wellbeing, Heritage and Environment, Sport and Leisure, plus a Rising Star Award.

The finalists from each region then go forward to the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards in association with Wellington Community Trust for the overall award in their category, and the opportunity to be named Supreme Winner, representing the Wellington Regions at the National Community Awards early next year.

Wellington Airport and Wellington Community Trust have partnered and run the awards over the past sixteen years, recognising hundreds of community groups across the region.

Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards 2019 Winners

• Supreme Award: InsideOUT
• Arts and Culture: Ōtaki Promotions Group
• Education and Child/Youth Development: InsideOUT
• Health and Wellbeing: Little Sprouts Charitable Trust
• Heritage and Environment: HUHA NZ (Helping You Help Animals)
• Sport and Leisure: Porirua Grand Traverse
• Rising Star Award: M.A.T.C.H. The Māoriland Tech Creative Hub

Art & Culture category winner and Supreme Award – Ōtaki Promotions Group

Ōtaki Promotions Group are a collection of local volunteers who organise and advocate for local initiatives that will have a positive impact on the wider Ōtaki community. They stage community events with highlights including the annual Ōtaki Kite Festival and a Community Expo. Watch video

Education & Child/Youth Development category winner – InsideOUT

InsideOUT is a national youth leadership organisation which works to make Aotearoa a safe place for young people of diverse genders and sexualities. They work with young people, whānau, schools, youth service providers and communities to decrease and prevent homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, provide safer spaces and improve the health and wellbeing of young people. Watch video

Health & Wellbeing category winner – Little Sprouts Charitable Trust

Little Sprouts Charitable Trust provides free life-changing baby packs, and much more, to babies in real need through dozens of charities across Wellington. They believe that every baby in New Zealand deserves the best start in life and that by working together we can ensure our most vulnerable children don’t just survive, but thrive. Watch video

Heritage & Environment category winner – HUHA NZ (Helping You Help Animals)

HUHA helps individuals, families and communities throughout NZ to find safe solutions for animals in trouble or need. Over 80 passionate volunteers run three animal shelters, a community veterinary clinic and an opportunity shop. They work tirelessly to support any species of animal needing shelter, help or care across Wellington and New Zealand. Watch video

Sport & Leisure category winner – Porirua Grand Traverse

The Porirua Grand Traverse was founded in 2006 to showcase Porirua city's spectacular surroundings and provide a positive fitness based opportunity for locals and visitors alike. Their mission is “all ages, all abilities, all amazing”. Each year over 100 volunteers bring the event to life for 1000 participants to enjoy. Watch video

Rising Star Award winner – M.A.T.C.H The Māoriland Tech Creative Hub

M.A.T.C.H is a tech creative learning centre supporting rangatahi to thrive as digital storytellers through workshops and access to industry leaders, so that they can enter high value careers as the producers, developers and thought pioneers of the future. M.A.T.C.H is a Māoriland Charitable Trust kaupapa improving the social, economic and educational opportunities for their community in Ōtaki. Watch video

$3000 Wild at Heart Spirit Award Scholarship recipients:

• Lufilufi Lene Isara - Rongotai College
• Steph Edlin - St Catherine’s College
• Will Georgeson - St Patrick’s College
• Matthew Harford - Scots College
• Neelisha Kumar - Wellington East Girls’ College

Lufilufi Lene Isara - Rongotai College

Lufilufi is a dedicated Head Boy and student council representative at Rongotai College. He competently leads the Pasifika Poly Group and is a student mentor at EBIS. An advocate for Pacific success, Lufi is an NZQA Pasifika Student Navigator and represented the school at a Pacific Health Plus Practice conference. He volunteers as a Sunday school teacher and youth leader at Taita Methodist Church.

Steph Edlin - St Catherine’s College

Steph is a brave and outspoken student leader and Head Girl at St Catherine's College. Steph is passionate about civic education, has served on the Rongotai Labour Youth Board, and recently stood for the Wellington City Council in the local body elections, campaigning for awareness of youth issues and smart, fair, diverse leadership.

Will Georgeson - St Patrick’s College

Will is a committed student leader and Head Boy at St Patrick's College. He volunteers for Young Vinnies, helped run a holiday programme at Holy Family School and organised fundraisers for Youthline and Ghanian students. Through the Young Marist Neighbours' programme, he participated in a service trip to Minginui, and the Hokianga Experience.

Matthew Harford - Scots College

Matthew is an active student leader and House Prefect at Scots College. Strongly community-minded, key activities include leading an appeal for Christmas present donations for Angel Tree NZ which supports children with parents in prison, and co-captained the school's 2019 Relay for Life team which raised over $20,000.

Neelisha Kumar - Wellington East Girls’ College

Neelisha is a compassionate student leader, peer tutor and Cultural Prefect at Wellington East Girls' College. She keenly collects for numerous charities, volunteers for Mary Potter Hospice and serves on the Wellington Indian Association Youth Board and the Hindu Heritage Youth Board.