A new partnership with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council has created more certainty for local charitable trust Avalon Bay of Plenty Incorporated.
The charitable trust is supported by mail finishing house Avalon Industries, which has signed an agreement to carry out the handling, flow-wrapping and distribution of all the Western Bay of Plenty District Council's mail-outs.


James Middleton and Maryanne Brennan.

Avalon Bay of Plenty Incorporated helps those with disabilities, giving them the opportunity for personal development and employment.
Some of those with disabilities are employed at Avalon Industries, described as a mail finishing house.
All of the trust's profits are injected back into the community.
James Middleton, Avalon Bay of Plenty Incorporated CEO, says Avalon faced serious problems during the economic downturn and when the government brought in new pay regulations for those with disabilities.
'Our wage bill increased by $200,000 overnight. We had to generate an extra $1.3 million a year,” says James.
'Avalon has been under threat because we have been struggling from a financial point of view but with the new relationship, Avalon's future is more secured,” says James.
The details of the deal are still being finalised but James expects the volume of work from the council to gradually increa