More than $100,000 worth of community grants have been made by Papakura Local Board.
Included was $5000 granted to the Papakura Theatre Company to replace wireless headsets and radio belts at its Off Broadway venue.
The group discovered it had a real-life drama on its hands when equipment it needed to ensure the curtain could rise on its Mama Mia production was found to be broken.
There was also strong support for charitable and community groups working with children and young people.
Nine primary schools and Papakura Intermediate will benefit from a grant to Kāinga Pukapuka for children’s books, while the Life Education Trust, Youthline, Papakura Collective and the Rising Foundation - which work with Papakura High School students, the Tread Lightly Charitable Trust, YMCA, the Children’s Autism Foundation, KidsCan, Kids for Kids and the Operating Theatre Trust all won grants.
Board chair Brent Catchpole says grants rounds are always over-subscribed, reflecting how hard it is for community groups to fund the activities they supply.
“Without the work these groups do our people would not have access to those activities.
“And there are always groups where there’s no way of knowing if the help we give worked. But that can’t mean brilliant organisations working with our young people in areas like counselling and suicide prevention miss out.”
There was support too for Papakura Marae and its work around children's car seats, while in the disability sector the Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Association and the UpsideDowns Education Trust both received grants, and bowls, swimming, gymnastics, rugby, netball, badminton and football groups were all supported.
The Papakura Historical Society, Cambodian Youth Trust, Southern Districts Chinese Association and Gateway Trust – which is behind the soon to open Papakura Food Hub, were supported; and there was backing for the Papakura Business Association and Papakura Kootuitui and its ongoing work in health at Papakura High School.
The board also spent $29,500 topping up grants it had already made to fully allocate its budget.
“With a little bit left we have been able to revisit some of the applications we have had that we were unable to fully support, and give those groups more,” Catchpole says.
That has seen extra grants made to Muskaan Care Trust, a cultural group largely working within the Indian community, sports groups, the Papakura Business Association, a fund for prescription glasses, medicines and other health consumables administered by Papakura Kootuitui, and for Papakura Marae to help with costs around Māori Warden leadership training.
