Central Lakes Trust (CLT) closes its 20th financial year, 31 March 2021, having granted $9.45 million into the Central
Lakes community, the largest amount granted in any one financial year the Trust has operated.
Trust chair, Linda Robertson says, “Prudent investment has allowed CLT to maintain a healthy and growing grants budget.
It is however the community members that drive the projects and causes we see across the board table and it is these
groups that enable the Trust to meaningfully contribute to charitable causes at the heart of the community’s needs.”
“This grants round is no different,” she states.
Funds of over $500K were granted to 11 charitable organisations this March to close out the Trust’s 20th year.
Among them, Southern Wellbeing Trust received $40,000 for a new pilot programme to address mental health concerns in our
community due to COVID-19.
Central Lakes Trust’s chief executive, Susan Finlay says, “The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented impacts on the
social and economic wellbeing of our residents particularly in Queenstown Lakes.
Supporting our communities to be better equipped to navigate the challenges of the post COVID landscape, has been a
focus for Central Lakes Trust over the past year. “The challenges our community faces due to COVID, are still very
real,” she says.
Southern Wellbeing Trust co-founder, Anna Dorsey says, “We could see first-hand the pressure COVID-19 was adding to
local health and social services, and how big a challenge this was going to be for our communities. We felt compelled to
do something,” she says.
GP Dr Tim Rigg and Ms Dorsey set Southern Wellbeing Trust up last September 2020.
The Trust’s first priority is to raise mental health literacy, particularly among the communities who have been hardest
hit in the last 12 months. A pilot project will bring an evidence-based mental health education programme into the
community. From April, the pilot will upskill local non-clinical facilitators from these communities so that they can
deliver mental health education workshops to their peers.
Ms Finlay says, “We look forward to following its progress as it rolls out, initially in the Queenstown Lakes, but
hopefully in time to our wider region”.
In addition, an $8,000 COVID-19 top-up to the Emergency Heating Fund, administered by Presbyterian Support Otago was
granted to ensure those in need do not go cold this winter.
The Cromwell Combined Society of Arts & Crafts Inc. can also look forward to being warmer as they too receive funding towards an improved heating system for
their pottery building.
LUMA is set to return to the Queenstown Botanic Gardens this year, after the Southern Light Project was cancelled due to
COVID-19. LUMA receives $88,000 towards the running of their Queens Birthday weekend event. The event has gained a wide
reputation and is now a cornerstone arts and culture events in the area. Entry to this year’s event is $6 per person and
free for those under 12 years.
Duncan Forsyth, LUMA chair says, "LUMA in 2021 will be back, we are thrilled to announce that this will be a magical
mystical return to the Queenstown gardens. Thanks to our many partners & the hundreds of people who help organise the festival however particular thanks goes to our principal backers In
Central Lakes Trust. Due to CLT's continuing support throughout the last year we will be bringing kiwi artists to the
fore in 2021 like never before including the largest schools and emerging artists programme to date. Due to demand a
ticketing system will be introduced this year so to ensure you don't miss out get in early, www.luma.nz”
Since the Trust commenced 20 years ago, it has distributed over $118 million into the community. A total of $9.45m of
the $9.40 million grants budget for the 2020/21 financial year has been allocated, utilising the 5% contingency the
Trust allows for in a year.
GRANTS APPROVED – MARCH 2021Project grantsClyde PlaycentreWhare Playhouse$1,650Cromwell Combined Society of Arts & Crafts Inc.Improved Heating System for Pottery Building$851LUMALUMA Southern Light Project 2021$88,000QLDC Sport & RecreationArtificial turf for Queenstown Events Centre$250,000Wanaka Search & RescueTraining & Equipment 2021$30,000Operational / Programme grantsBlue Light Central LakesBLAST 2021$1,370Disability Information ServiceMobile Service 2021/22$12,010Southern Wellbeing TrustGoodYarn Community Prog 2021/22$40,000Street SmartStreet Smart 2021/22$12,000Volunteer SouthOperational Grant 2021/22$70,000CLT InitiativesPresbyterian Support OtagoCOVID-19 Emergency Heating Fund$8,000TOTAL GRANTS APPROVED - MARCH:$513,881FINANCIAL YEAR END - 31 March 2021:$9,454,900
Values shown for multiyear grants are for the specified year only.ABOUT THE CENTRAL LAKES TRUST
Central Lakes Trust is a charitable trust that grant funds for charitable purposes.
It is the largest philanthropic trust per capita in the Southern Hemisphere. The trust purpose is to make a positive
lasting contribution to the community by supporting charitable projects throughout Central Lakes; to enhance assets and
enrich lives by supporting our community.
Since its inception in 2000 the Trust has grown its asset base from the $155m, bestowed by the Otago Central Electric
Power Trust to assets totalling $431m, and has distributed more than $118m into a wide range of community projects and
services throughout the Central Lakes area.