More than forty successful grant applicants are progressing initiatives to benefit the wider community after Waitematā Local Board allocated funding at its May business meeting.
Local grants have been awarded to 24 community organisations, while 20 others will get assistance with rent and lease payments through the board’s accommodation grant.
“We truly value the projects and initiatives of our community groups and organisations,” says Waitematā Local Board chair Genevieve Sage.
“We’re proud to be able to support a range of them through our grants programme, empowering the good work they are doing locally.”
Student radio station 95bFM pays a monthly license fee to transmit to a 100km radius. The local board has granted a total of $4,000 to help with the cost of these fees for the next three months.
Fundraising coordinator for 95bFM Natalya Mandich-Dohnt explains that the station is partially funded by NZ on Air, but they are also reliant on advertising and grant funding.
“A grant like this really makes a massive difference.”
“Ultimately bFM centres around our grassroots music community in Auckland, the artists and the audiences, and how we can enrich people’s lives. We have listeners from all walks of life who connect through this independent, local arts community.”
Another recipient, the Wingspan Trust is a charity committed to ensuring counselling is available to everybody. It has received a Waitematā Accommodation Grant of $8,000 towards the rent of its premises on Upper Queen Street.
Founded in 1893 as “The New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children”, Wingspan is New Zealand’s second oldest charity.
Wingspan CEO Kelly Olsen says that their services benefit all ethnicities and all ages.
“It doesn’t matter where people come from, we stand with them and work together to help them clear the obstacles or challenges in their lives.
“The work we do has a great ripple effect throughout the Waitematā community. The thing I’m proudest of is that so many of our clients tell us they have managed to start having much better relationships with people in their whānau – and Waitematā will be a stronger community for that.”
The full list of grant recipients can be found in the board’s May business meeting minutes.
Stay up to date
Sign up for the Waitematā Local Board E-news and get local news direct to your inbox each month.
