Applications to this year’s Contestable Grants Fund are now open for groups serving the needs of the Hastings community.

Nearly $250,000 was allocated to 31 groups in last year’s funding round with recipients’ projects ranging from education initiatives to victim support, making community radio programmes, training young opera singers and fixing and redistributing bicycles.

The amounts granted ranged from $1000 given to Christian Lovelink Napier/Hastings to $25,000 for Women’s Refuge.

Each year Hastings District Council funds projects that provide services or run programmes that address specific needs in Hastings. The priorities are: helping youth into training and jobs; helping new and existing businesses to provide local jobs; providing help and advice for people in need due to aging and/or adverse circumstances; making improvements to the district which will attract visitors, students and businesses; providing programmes that reduce littering, wasting resources and crime; promoting participation in recreation, arts, and cultural activities.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says the groups that have received funding in the past have done much to enrich the Hastings community, and very much deserved the council’s support.

“These grants support projects that fit with our council’s priorities for building a safe, liveable and sustainable community.

“We have seen a wide range of outstanding projects that do just that for our youth, aged communities, recreation, arts and cultural activities.”

Applicants need to be able to set out the aims of the project and how the success will be measured, and the cost of the service. They also need to supply their organisation’s most recent annual report and financial accounts. Successful grant recipients must supply a report after the service or programme is completed, showing how the grant money was spent.

Applicants are also encouraged to present their application to the Grants Committee.

Applications close on April 30, for grants available from July 1. For more information see: www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/contestable-grants-fund

ENDS

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