The Christmas spirit, bees, heritage roses, trams, the Rainbow community, toy and tool libraries all received a helping hand under Waitematā Local Board’s 2018/19 Quick Response Round Two Grants programme.
Of the 30 applications, 21 received funding totalling $28,078.00, with the largest single grant of $2500 going to the Ponsonby Business Association to deliver a new, interactive and visually captivating event called the “I Love Ponsonby Christmas Fest” at Western Park.
At the other end of the scale, the Documentary New Zealand Trust needed just $500 to help bring Doc Edge Pride to the Q Theatre in 2019. “This film screening will allow the LGBTQ community to find inspiration and strength from watching their stories on the big screen creating a sense of community and well-being,” organisers say.
Community-led bee sustainability group For the Love of Bees plans to use the $1000 it received to continue its school and public workshops on Regenerative Landcare at Newmarket’s historic Highwic house and gardens.
“Our vision is that multiple communities are able to take ownership of a public site and, over the course of a year, learn to maintain and improve ecosystems through on-site learning,” says group coordinator Sarah Smuts Kennedy.
Toy and tool libraries received help to become self-sustainable and increase public awareness of their services. Parnell’s Fun & Games Toy Library says their library is about more than just toys: it provides a space for local families to meet, interact and spend quality time together.
Amanda Chapman, whose brain-child is the Auckland Tool Library, says after building a tiny home without owning any of her own tools, starting a tool library seemed like a clear solution.
“The tool library will be a community hub providing access to tools and equipment, reducing unnecessary consumption and empowering individuals and communities to build, share and create in a more sustainable ways,” she says.
Perhaps the grandest project which received a helping hand is the rescue of the last remaining 1935 Auckland Streamliner, a tram built in Auckland during the Second World War.
The public will be able to view Tram 225 in storage and follow its restoration and re-engineering which will bring the tram back into operational status. Auckland Electric Tramways Trust says it’s important to preserve the tram’s uniqueness so it can be experienced by future generations of Aucklander’s.
Other organisations funded include Auckland Youth Orchestra, Life Education Trust, All Together Multi-Culture Society Club, Galatea Theatre and the Diana Wong Heritage Project.
The third round of the board’s 2018/19 Quick Response Grants opens on 15 April 2019. Visit the board’s webpage to find out more about Quick Response Grants and other grants you may be eligible for.
