This trust was set up in 2005 by Certified Builders due to a need to ensure our apprentices are getting the necessary support to complete their training and get trade qualified. Which benefits themselves, their family, the building industry and the NZ community.
It is our aim to walk with them during their journey and put a hand out to them if needed. We offer hardship grants which are available for apprentices who may be going through a difficult period, and struggling to make ends meet. The grants vary between petrol vouchers for travel and accommodation grants and meal assistance during their block course duration. We do assist with fees that are overdue to ensure their training continues while in their hardship situation. We do suggest that apprentices can pay it back by donating money to the AST when they are in a better position in the future, so other apprentices can continue to have access to these funds and benefit. AST is also a charitable trust, so you can make donations to the AST anytime. We have great support from the Certified Builders Regional Committees with many events pledging donations for the AST. The AST has a board of trustees and an Executive Director.
AST Mission Statement – “To promote and assist the training, skills, experience and general advancement of and education of apprentices, trainees, students and other persons in all aspects of carpentry and trades within the building industry;
For more information on the AST please contact Sally Blackler on sally@certified.co.nz
How it all started... In 2002 at the Northland Polytechnic in Whangarei there was an Apprentice that was attending his second 2 week block course as part of his second year of training. His employer was not paying him to attend his block courses and he was not in a good financial situation, but was very keen to complete his Apprenticeship and become a qualified tradesman and too proud to confess that he was short of money.
He was so keen that he drove his van down from Kiataia to Whangarei about 170kms and had used up most of his money on petrol to get to his block course.
When he arrived at Tech he parked his van in the car park at the end of the Carpentry building and this is where he lived and slept for 2 weeks while attending his course. He lived on bread and spread and a hot drink that he made himself in the little kitchen at the end of the workshop. It was not until Thursday on the second week that I found out what he was doing as one of his tutors I was shocked to think what he was doing. I could have given him a bed at home and dinner.
I then recited this tail to one of the Certified Builders board members over a couple beers in the north and he, like me was shocked to think that an Apprentice would go to these lengths to get his qualifications. His comment to me was “if they are this keen to complete their apprenticeship then surely the CBA can help and support them in some way”.
The concept of forming a trust to support Apprentices was taken to the next CBA board meeting where each area/region was asked to do something to raise money for the trust. The Far North ran their annual trade show and Auckland raised a large amount of money by holding a Builders Golf Tournament at Waitangi, all the profit from this went in to the fund and that was enough to set the ball rolling.
With thanks to the trust, Apprentices throughout New Zealand are now able to become qualified trades people with some of the hardship and hurdles made easier. (The trust is a registered charity so we gratefully receive donations.)
