A total of 24 organisations were recently awarded a share of $63,678.50 in the first round of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board grants programme for the 2024/2025 financial year.
Applications for local grants totalled just over $281,000 far outstripping the board’s budget.
Board chair Alexis Poppelbaum says with grants rounds typically over-subscribed, and so many deserving projects, the local board wants to fund as many projects as possible with a focus on those that align with the priorities in the local board plan.
“Our aim through the grants programme is to strengthen relationships with local groups and organisations as we want them to thrive,” she says.
“New organisations are applying and helping us reach out to communities that can be hard to connect with.
Local grants ranged from $500 to $7,000 for a wide range of projects, mostly in the community category followed by arts and culture, and sports and recreation.
Over a quarter of the grants programme has a youth focus with a helping hand extended to organisations delivering youth support services, youth programmes, peer support, sports programmes and sports equipment.
Among the community grants is one of $2,000 for Rainbow Youth Incorporated who run the Whangaparāoa Rainbow group for LGBTQIA+ young people on the Hibiscus Coast and the grant will help with facilitator and meeting costs.
The Youth In Transition Charitable Trust received a grant of $5,000 for The Journey Back to Awesome programme which involves at-risk youth.
In the sports and recreation category, $3,200 went to the Silverdale United Rugby Club for signage and sports equipment for the Touch and Tag programme involving many junior players, and $2,000 to the Hibiscus Coast Softball Club to run a school programme.
Bellyfull New Zealand Trust received $1,000 towards meal ingredients and Coast Community Trust got $2,500 for free community dinners.
The elderly community are supported with a Christmas concert organised by Age Concern Rodney receiving $2,313.50, the Torbay Friendship Club getting $1,000 towards monthly excursions and a Christmas lunch, and $1,000 for hall hire going to the Hibiscus Coast Senior Citizens Association.
Several applications were deemed a better fit with the board’s facilities grants which opens on 3 March. Facilities grants assist with the costs of planning or developing a facility in the local board area. They can be used for needs assessments, feasibility reports, investigation and design costs, and small building works.
The board approved Local Economic and Business Grants totalling $30,000 and a second grant round to open on 3 March. This grant is open to business associations, aligns to local board plan outcomes and has a strong focus on initiatives providing economic benefits to local businesses.
The Mairangi Bay Business Association received $10,000 towards Feast Coast Bays which supports the local hospitality sector and promotes local restaurants. Business Whangaparāoa will receive $20,000 for networking activities aligned to local board plan priorities.
Poppelbaum says: ” We see the difference that grants can make, even small grant amounts as when groups work collaboratively with others, they can attract funding and become financially sustainable and resilient.”
The full list of grants is available in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Meeting agenda on 22 October 2024 at infocouncil.govt.nz (item 11).
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