Applying for local board grants and funding can sometimes be a daunting task, so Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board is supporting a series of sessions to help applicants to be ‘funder-ready’.
The response to the first workshop and drop-in session in October was impressive with 38 registered and more than 50 turning up on the day.
“Attendees came from a range of backgrounds; churches, schools, community groups, sports clubs, there were groups with a youth and disability focus, those providing social services," says Therese Lanigan-Behrent of the council’s Community Empowerment team.
She says they have had great feedback from attendees with one commenting, “I am a novice to the funding process, so any information spoken about today has real value to me”.
Given the success of the initial meetings, more are scheduled for 2020.
Among the guidance attendees receive is how to fill out the forms correctly, the kind of information they need to provide, where to look for the information and expectations and responsibilities of successful applicants.
Therese says the sessions take a 'big picture approach' before even starting to look at writing a grant application or assessing the best funding options. There is also a focus on the importance for groups to plan from the roots of the organisation and be clear about their mission and that this is embedded in the work they do.
And the local board is keen to provide support for as long as it is needed.
“The number of people attending these workshops is a clear indication that we have found a need in our community,” says Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board chair Chris Makoare.
“We will certainly be continuing them throughout 2020, or for as long as there is a need.”
Keep an eye on the local board’s Facebook page for dates.
