Geraldine Licensing Trust
Description
The Geraldine Licensing Trust (GLT) has operated in the Geraldine area since 1950. The Trust is a commercial venture managed by an elected board that provides hospitality to visitors and locals by investing in community assets. Its purpose is to manage and grow the Trust's assets for the benefit of Geraldine.
GLT derives its income from the lease of its properties, the Village Inn Complex, Westpac Bank building and law practice office building on Wilson Street, as well as other investments and returns a portion of its profits to the community as a 'community dividend'.
Each year, the Trust provides financial support to a range of Geraldine organisations and groups through submitted applications as well as contributing to many key partnerships spanning the social, cultural, educational and business interests of our community, including:
Geraldine Resource Centre Naming Partnership Agreement
Geraldine Community Vehicle Trust Advertising Sponsorship
Geraldine High School 3 student Tertiary Scholarships
Go Geraldine Gold Sponsor
Geraldine Primary School
Woodbury School
The Trust provides relevant information and advice about local initiatives to Aotearoa Gaming Trust, which operates the gaming machines in Geraldine and aims to return those machines' profits directly to the community.
Over the past five years, the Aotearoa Gaming Trust has contributed more than $1.1 m to Geraldine projects and groups, while the Geraldine Licensing Trust annually provides $20,000-$30,000 worth of financial support to Geraldine.
Just a few of the organisations that have benefited from financial support from the Geraldine Licensing Trust and Aotearoa Gaming Trust in the last five years include:
- Geraldine Combined Sports – domain redevelopment and new turf
- Geraldine Scuplture Trail
- Geraldine Family & Yought Trust
- Geraldine District Golf Club Incorporated for new operational equipment
- Orari Equestrian Centre Incorporated for building and facility maintenance
- Geraldine Rugby Club
- Geraldine Preschool for building and facility maintenance
- Geraldine District Foundation seed funding for the Geraldine Medical Centre
See here for the rich and interesting history of liquor licensing and the Trust in Geraldine.
Sharing the Community Dividend.
Each year, the GLT supports a number of community initiatives through grants. The Trustees are enthusiastic about the support the Trust offers the community and say the first step for any group wanting to approach the GLT or Southern Trust (GLT act as an advisory body to the Southern Trust) is to contact any of the trustees for an initial chat.
They can provide people with advice and information which will help to shape the final formal application. It is vital to get in touch with them early on, when a project is first coming together, so they can work with the group to get the amount right for the application as well as the timing of the application and how it is worded. They are there to help and would love for people and organisations to make more use of the Trustees for the benefit of our whole community.
The Geraldine Licensing Trust does not have stringent set of criteria for applications however it does look at need and sustainability and tries to equitably share the funds that are available for distribution from the Trusts profits. It is keen to support tangible projects that will have an enduring benefit for the community rather than contributing towards ongoing running costs or items that will soon need to be replaced.
As a 'sounding board' for the Southern Trust the GLT provide local knowledge and advice to the Southern Trust and their information and opinions are taken seriously by the Southern Trust.
Current Geraldine Licensing Trust Board members are:
The Trust's administrator and secretary is:
Nicky Coleman of Solve Chartered Accountants and Advisors.
How to get involved:
The Geraldine Licensing Trust encourages local people to stand for nomination to the Trust and help to continue the Trust's excellent work in supporting the community. Elections are held every three years as part of the local body elections with six trustees elected to represent Geraldine and govern the assets of the Trust.
The Trust welcomes people from all walks of life to bring diversity and a rich variety of interests, opinions and skills to the Trust.
See here for more information about the structure of the Trust.
