20 Years, 20 Stories - 1999 to 2019 Stories of Wayne Francis Charitable Trust Helena’S Children Jamie and Nicholas

20 Years, 20 Stories - 1999 to 2019 Stories of Wayne Francis Charitable Trust Helena’s children Jamie and Nicholas 20 YEARS 20 Stories The value of enduring trusting relationships He len a F rancis W ay ne Fr ancis Kia ora koutou, As a family foundation, we are in a unique space where we can be creative and catalytic, apply Twenty years ago, my father, Wayne Francis, calculated risk and bring much more than money established the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust to the table. At the Trust, we believe in high trust (WFCT) in the same year that he died. relationships, strengths-based and collective My father was a hard working and entrepreneurial approaches to achieve sustained change - alongside man, who loved hunting and fishing and all aspects our community. of harness racing. He had been successful in Thank you to the trustees and team, who for the last his relatively short career, and wanted a way to twenty years have got on with the work, challenged contribute to the health, education, development, each other, encouraged innovation and been agents experiences and wellbeing of young people. of change. I also wish to acknowledge our passionate He resonated with a strengths based approach from Youth Advisory Group, community partners, everyone the beginning, including wanting to support the who has contributed to the Stories and all of our ‘talents’ of young people. Twenty years on, I don’t partners and collaborators over the last twenty years. think he would have imagined the role the Trust would Thank you for your generosity and mahi. play or how strategic our funding would become. I think he would be pleased and surprised at our Ngā Manaakitanga, contribution. The 20 Years 20 Stories is the first time we have shared the stories of the Trust. While they are not intended to be a complete thesis of everything we have done, or a chronological record, they are intended to shine a light on the variety of work and our way of working. For the most part, these stories are told from the perspective of our partners in the community. Helena Francis, WFCT Chair 2 Wayne Francis Charitable Trust Contents 20 Years 20 Stories 02 Past, Present and Future 04 #01 The YAG 12 #02 The SCOPE Review Tool 15 #03 The PYDA 16 #04 Strengthening the Youth Sector 18 #05 The Champion Centre 20 #06 Research and Advocacy for Disabled Youth 22 He len a F rancis #07 Christchurch Youth Council 24 W ay ne Fr #08 Cultivate Christchurch ancis 25 #09 The Wayne Francis Cancer Epidemiology Research Group 28 #10 Canterbury Child Development Research Group 30 #11 Te Puna Oraka ‘Shirley Hub’ 31 #12 Special Needs Library 32 #13 Leadership in Communities Project 33 #14 The Working Together More Fund 35 #15 Literacy and Numeracy Empowerment Project 37 #16 Philanthropy New Zealand 38 #17 Serial Entrepreneur Jake Millar 40 #18 The Social Enterprise Experience 42 #19 Olympic Cyclist Natasha Hansen 44 #20 Dancer Joshua Guillemot-Rodgerson 46 20 Years 20 Stories 3 PRESENT 4 Wayne Francis Charitable Trust Wayne Francis Charitable Trust PAST PRESENT and Future Wayne James Francis was born in Christchurch, land development business). This duo was soon Aotearoa New Zealand, in 1943. He was educated at joined by Garry Moore (then Mayor of Christchurch), West Spreydon Primary and Waitaki Boys High Peter Beck (then proxy for the Anglican Bishop) and in Oamaru. Guy Johnson (then CE of the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation). Wayne started his working life as a shearer and farmer. He went on to become a land developer ‘I advised Wayne when the Trust was established in and co-founder of the Nevele-R stud. Wayne loved 1999. I wanted to see his wishes implemented.’ Simon horses and raced a number of champions. Mortlock, WFCT Trustee Wayne’s heart for young people emanated from his ‘There was an expectation that the Mayor and Bishop experiences as a parent. His hope was for all young be involved. The Bishop at the time was David Coles people to overcome barriers, reach their potential and and I was the Dean. I knew Garry and others involved. live happy and fulfilled lives. I was happy to step in as proxy and as Bishops changed, we decided I was doing an okay job. I was Wayne was an entrepreneur, who developed trusting involved for thirteen years.’ Peter Beck, former WFCT relationships and believed in backing people who Trustee backed themselves. He was generous and committed to the Christchurch community. Wayne’s philanthropy The Trust Manager appointed at that time was Sally during his life was quietly done and reflected his Mountfort, a legal executive at the firm that acted humility. for Wayne. Sally had been involved in Wayne’s subdivision work and helped prepare the WFCT deed. Wayne died of cancer in 1999. The Wayne Francis Charitable Trust (WFCT) was established prior to his ‘I had worked for Wayne on his subdivision ventures death, and embodies Wayne’s values of fairness, trust (he was very astute) and on the Trust set-up. I and empowerment. resonated with the issues that were important to him, the focus on young people in particular. Knowing An intentioned approach nothing about philanthropy (at that time I couldn’t When establishing the Trust in 1999, Wayne chose to even spell the word), I put my hand up. One of the first focus on young people in Ōtautahi Christchurch and people I rang was Robyn Scott at Philanthropy New cancer research. And he wanted WFCT to operate Zealand.’ Sally Mountfort, previous Manager WFCT differently. The approach was to be relationship Wayne’s daughter Helena Francis joined the Board based, strategic and ‘hand up, not hand out.’ in early 2005, Pam Sharpe in 2006 (bringing governance experience and passion for the early The WFCT team years) and Chris Mene in 2009 (with community Wayne appointed his lawyer Simon Mortlock and development and education knowledge). Chris accountant the late Graeme Davey as initial trustees originally joined for one year and then stayed on, (Simon and Graeme also acted for Wayne on his ‘I fell into the role through my passion for youth 20 Years 20 Stories 5 development.’ The Trust Manager elaborates, ‘Once ‘The Trust has an enormous responsibility to take risks.’ you join, you’re like family. It’s hard to leave.’ Garry Moore, WFCT Trustee Scottish lawyer Jenn Chowaniec was appointed ‘Family foundation philanthropy can work to achieve Trust Manager in 2015. Jenn came with a background systemic change (rather than simply grant making). working for NGO’s in Africa and a passion for social The opportunity is to work in partnership with others justice. She recalls the interview process, ‘I remember of like mind. You can’t do it alone.’ Simon Mortlock, sitting in Peter Beck’s house and he said, ‘We want to WFCT Trustee change the world, can you help us?’ Jenn took up the There was an overarching wish to keep things simple, gauntlet. not burden community partners with complicated Educator Trevor McIntyre became a member of the application forms and compliance reports and to act Board in 2016 along with Andrew O’Regan, who as an enabler. The Trust would form relationships, brought a commercial lens. Andrew was chuffed to ‘long before the topic of money is discussed’ and bring his investment experience to the fore, ‘They values the ability to be ‘more than the money’. The were looking from the investment side, it was great Trust has always deliberately kept the Manager job to use my skills and experience to help set that part description broad to create the freedom to explore. of it up.’ Trust Manager Jenn Chowaniec shares, ‘the Board is quite happy when I say I have had heaps of coffee Motivations for involvement meetings.’ Members of the Board became involved because of ‘The Trustees wanted to work differently. They were family connection, because they were invited and/ brave and inspirational. They focused on the bigger or brought specialist knowledge (and networks) that picture, not funding in the same ways as other funders were needed. All resonated with the focus areas of - not choking people with application forms and the Trust. compliance reports.’ Sally Mountfort, previous WFCT ‘I was approached when I was at the Medical Research Manager Foundation. I am someone that looks at research, ‘When the Trust first started, it was really unusual to sees the bigger picture and asks what is the best work in the strategic philanthropy grant making space. way to invest this money, rather than just give it It was unusual to have a Youth Advisory Group, and it to a researcher doing part of a major project.’ Guy was unusual to not have an application process.’ Jenn Johnson, former WFCT Trustee and current Advisory Chowaniec, WFCT Manager Trustee Being involved in a family foundation unconstrained by rules, as ‘community entrepreneurs’ and freedom to operate differently was deliberate ‘The Trustees were handed the ball and they ran with it’. This way ‘The Trustees wanted of working appealed to the respective trustees, to work differently. ‘What moved me was the concept of the Trust to be different, to make it easier for recipients and build They were brave and trust.’ inspirational. They ‘I was attracted to the fact that there were no rules. We were going to have freedom. I have worked with focused on the bigger so many funding organisations where there is some picture, not funding in bloody pin headed twerp who has written some rules which means you can’t do anything creative.’ Garry the same ways as other Moore, WFCT Trustee funders - not choking ‘With WFCT we could operate outside the square.

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