Bees, worms, dancers, the Rainbow community, and rugby league-loving youngsters all benefitted from the $140,511.27 awarded under Waitematā Local Board 2017-18 grants programme.
Of the 124 applications, 68 got funding with the largest single grant of $7500 going to the Auckland Fringe Trust while TAPAC, the Theatre and Performing Arts Centre in Western Springs, received $13,519 over four different grants.
At the other end of the scale, Breaking Boundaries needed just $412 to help bring the Rainbow community together to see youths performing poetry, comedy and music. “Most respondents referenced meeting new people, getting to talk to artists they admired and feeling a sense of community,” organisers say.
Of the projects, 39 per cent were community-related, 36 per cent arts and culture, nine per cent sport and recreation, seven per cent environmental, five per cent events, and four per cent historic heritage.
St Peter’s College went worm farming after getting $870 for three hungry bin worm farms that both minimise waste and raise awareness of it.
Food waste is used to feed the worms, their casings then used in the Trees for Survival programme and the fertiliser around the school, which has formed a sustainability group that is focusing on the worm farms in its Young Reporters for the Environment entry.
“The worm farms have been a talking point for staff and students,” the school says. ”Many have been asking how they can contribute and help.”
At Grey Lynn’s Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club, 16 young players headed to Whakatane for the Kiwi Junior Rugby League Festival courtesy of $960 for the entry fee.
“Participation helped strengthen friendships, confidence and self-esteem while making life-long memories through rugby league,” the club says.
Community-led bee sustainability group For the Love of Bees used the $5000 it received to establish a Rongoā Garden in Griffith Gardens in the city, a bee sanctuary in Highwic, garden beds at Inner City Presbyterian Church, pasture paintings at Victoria Park and Herne Bay Playcentre and various workshops around beekeeping, composting and organic practices.
Rongoā is the medicinal use of plants and 200 people attended its opening in the city centre.
The group is collaborating with Auckland Girls Grammar, Western Springs College, Newmarket Primary – which won a Green Gold Enviroschool Award for its work at Highwic –, Ngāti Whātua and Rotary.
“What's amazing is that when we do workshops we'll have anyone from the well-heeled to the homeless working together,” the group says.
Even Santa got a look in, with the Auckland Children's Christmas Parade Trust getting $2500 towards the city’s annual Christmas Parade, the grant helping feed the 550-odd volunteers who work a 13-hour day to support the event.
The power of words was recognised with a $2000 grant to Action Education that funded spoken word poetry workshops in several schools, with more than 200 students taking part.
“Participants were introduced to spoken word poetry, gained writing and literacy skills, built confidence and self-esteem through self-expression and had an interest in learning ignited,” the group says.
And for those who like their arts a little more physical, there was $3500 for the Circability Trust, to deliver family circus events at Victoria Park, with almost 500 people attending.
Other organisations funded included Q Theatre, Life Education, Auckland Choral Society, Parnell Heritage, New Zealand Dance Advancement Trust and the Gladstone Tennis Club.
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The first round of the board’s 2018-19 local grant is open now. Apply now
