A Bay of Plenty organisation helping those with disabilities to fully integrate into the local community will receive a $30,000 grant from BayTrust which guarantees their future for the start of the New Year.

Chrome Collective is based in Katikati and now caters for 50 individuals who all have varying disabilities.

The charitable trust supports them to create meaningful micro-businesses and offers vocational training and employment opportunities, as well as advocacy services.

BayTrust has acknowledged the important work Chrome Collective is doing by granting $30,000 to help cover their operational costs for the start of 2024.

The trust supports people to create meaningful micro-businesses and offers vocational training and employment opportunities. Photos supplied.

“It’s actually awesome,” says Chrome Collective’s general manager, Shelley Robinson.

“We’ve been really humbled by how supportive people have been of us.

“This grant means that we can still stay open basically.

“That’s what it boils down to.”

Chrome Collective offers a programme three days a week where disabled people come together to produce hand-made goods such as eco cleaning products, ceramic hearts, relishes and sweet treats which are then sold online (https://chromecollective.co.nz/shop/) or at local markets in Katikati and Waihi Beach.

KaiGo. Photos supplied.

Participants are also involved in running KaiGo, a community food rescue programme where they pick up surplus or unsold food from local supermarkets and re-distribute it to people in need.

In March, Chrome Collective will widen their sustainability efforts by launching a resource recovery pilot programme at the council-owned recycling centre on Tetley Rd.

It is the brainchild of Chrome Collective’s operations manager, Sharaine Steenburg, who says its members will help sort donations of various goods from the public which will then be on-sold to help generate revenue.

Sharaine Steenberg, left, and Shelley Robinson, right. Photos supplied.

“The six month trial is really to see what sort of things people will drop off to us,” she says.

“Until we start, we don’t really know what to expect but it will create employment for our people and help save the planet at the same time by not throwing things into landfill.”

Chrome Collective’s main goal is proper community integration so people with disabilities can fully participate in life at the same level as non-disabled individuals.

Shelley says many people underestimate what a disabled person is capable of achieving, and education remains a big focus for both individuals, their families and potential employers.

“You have to really extend people’s abilities and not block any effort that they want to make.

“It’s important not to do everything for them.

“We are there to enable some independence but with support.

“A lot of these people have had years and years of people telling them they can’t do something.

“When in actual fact they probably can.

“So that’s what it’s all about – enabling everyone to live the best lives that they possibly can.”

Ruby from Chrome Collective. Photos supplied.

BayTrust CEO Alastair Rhodes says community integration is vitally important to the health and wellbeing of any community.

“In too many cases, people with disabilities are segregated and kept away from their non-disabled peers.

“But successful community integration, like what Chrome Collective is able to achieve, gives people a strong and valued place in society without reducing them to their disability label.

“We applaud the work they are doing and are proud to support them with this $30,000 contribution.”