Community groups from Whangarei to Southland - and places in between - received $3.310 million in grants from The Southern Trust to support their programmes in the third quarter of 2018.

The Southern Trust – one of the country’s leading gaming trusts – released figures today showing community groups that received grants between 1 July 2018 and 30 September 2018.

The grant allocation by region in the third quarter of the year was:

Auckland 160,137.00
Central Otago District 13,867.00
Christchurch City 791,579.00
Dunedin City 124,917.00
Hamilton City 117,420.00
Horowhenua District 105,810.00
Invercargill City 286,704.00
Kaikoura District 58,370.00
Nationwide 164,850.00
New Plymouth District 141,900.00
Opotiki District 63,050.00
Queenstown-Lakes District 199,788.00
Rotorua District 256,270.00
South Taranaki District 4,000.00
South Waikato District 67,200.00
Southland District 37,997.00
Tararua District 40,000.00
Taupo District 39,970.00
Tauranga City 53,455.00
Timaru District 97,965.00
Waikato District 90,914.00
Waimakariri District 169,300.00
Waitaki District 17,787.00
Whakatane District 86,320.00
Whangarei District 120,255.00
Total 3,309,825.00

The Southern Trust CEO and Trustee Karen Shea said significant grants in the three months included; $150,000 for the New Zealand Olympic Committee to help fund the Olympic Ambassador programme, $75,000 for the Rotorua Community Hospice Trust and $30,000 each to The New Zealand Aids Foundation, and Upper Central Zone of New Zealand Rugby League.

Other activities funded included $30,000 for the Kiwi Can and Career Navigator programmes run by the Youth Development Southland Regional Trust, $25,000 to support the Royal New Zealand Ballet tour of The Nutcracker to Auckland and Christchurch, a $15,000 contribution to New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation for costs of the Pink Star walk in Christchurch, $18,000 to Gymsports New Zealand for medical services and AV equipment for 2018 Champs in Tauranga and $15,000 to Christchurch’s Parkview Primary School for purchase and installation of a playground.

“Partnerships with venues across New Zealand provide funds to assist community organisations the length and breadth of the country. The Trust is consistently receiving more applications for fund than there are funds available in the majority of areas, she said.”

Community organisations anywhere in New Zealand can apply for funding from The Southern Trust. The Trust continually reviews applications with most processed within 20 working days. Requests larger than $30,000 are reviewed at monthly Board of Trustees meetings.

Community organisations considering applying for funding should firstly call The Southern Trust funding team on 0800 4 CHARITY (0800 42 42 74). “Our team can easily advise on application criteria, which can save organisations a lot of time.”

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