Almost $50,000 has been allocated to community groups under Papakura Local Board’s grants programme.
Grants cover everything from road safety initiatives and sport to conservation and youth skills programmes.
Board chair Brent Catchpole says the pressure COVID-19 is putting on funding was evident, with several applications for staff costs declined because salaries are a low priority under the grants programme.
Included in the awards was $3000 for the Leader in U programme for its Idea 2 Launch seminars, which encourage small business ideas among migrant women by providing workshop advice and resources, and mentoring.
Other successes:
- Mountains to the Sea Trust, Te Papa Kaitiaki for Rosehill Intermediate
- Bruce Pulman Park Trust, costs to install commercial grade worm farm
- Southside Drama, venue hire for workshops and production finale
- Blue Light Ventures, for two youths to attend a week-long life skills camp
- Road Safety Education, venue hire for Papakura youth programme
- Southern District Chinese Assoc, venue hire costs for progammes
- Papakura Business Assoc, stars for town centre Christmas tree
- Life Education Trust, cost for Kelvin Rd School and Kauri Flats School.
- Sustainable Papakura, costs for community resource recovery programme
- Ki o Rahi, Te Whaitua o Ueunuku Ki o Rahi Papakura costs
- Youthline Auckland, Papakura share of annual costs
- Papakura Tennis Club, court windbreaker and social participation costs
- School Start First Impressions, packs for new entrants
- Kokako Lodge Trust, helmets and harnesses for abseiling and climbing
- Mafutaga Samoa Papakura, gear for walking programmes.
The board also made two 'multi-board' grants, where groups can seek grants from more than one board if they operate across those areas.
The first went to the CLM Programme for costs for children to participate in a building challenge, and the other to the Auckland King Tides Initiative, being run with the NZ Institute of Professional Engineers, for an environmental project around tidal measurement.
“Allocating grants to community organisations is one of the most satisfying things members do, because we learn about many incredible groups, their members and their plans to benefit the community we live in," Brent Catchpole says.
