Rural women mission complete, with $12k raised

A group of ladies from Tasman Rural Women have raised $12,000 to support Nelson and Tasman families that are struggling to afford school and sport fees and equipment.

They have now distributed the money between three intermediate schools and several surrounding area schools, benefitting around 185 families.

Members of Tasman Rural Women, Liza Vass, Anna Thomas, and Emma Higgins launched ‘Play for Keeps’ in 2023. The majority of the funds are being used to assist females participating in sports by reducing or removing the cost of fees and equipment, which are barriers for some young females getting involved in sports.

Emma says, initially the group contacted intermediate and area schools, asking a range of questions so they could better understand the need within each school, and from that got busy creating the ‘Play for Keeps’ mission.

Murchison Area School are using the funding towards participation, fees, equipment, and costs associated with the Top of South Island Area Schools tournaments.

Maruia Area School used the funds to update sports equipment, meaning teachers are now able to provide a wider variety of sports lessons, exposing students to more games, skills, techniques, and experiences.

Nelson Intermediate School is putting the funding towards encouraging and supporting girls to participate in sports, specifically basketball, football, cricket, and rugby, where female numbers are low, by reducing the cost of sporting equipment which is often a barrier.

Broadgreen Intermediate School used the funding to cover female sports fees and Collingwood Area School, Tapawera Area School, and Waimea Intermediate School are using the funds on a discretionary basis, using it for a combination of equipment and sports fees for females to participate in sports.

“Our completed mission has highlighted the work that the Rural Women organisation does,” Emma explains.

“We often ask our members and the wider rural community about issues or concerns affecting people in the rural areas they live in and our ‘Play for Keeps’ mission has put Nelson and Tasman families at the forefront of what we have been working on as a group.

“It’s been so rewarding for all involved, this opportunity was made possible by all the generous women involved and through funding from Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women as part of celebrating the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.”