The Otago Community Trust recently announced over $1.2million distributed to 47 recipients in 2024’s first funding round.
The grants support a wide range of community initiatives, with a particular focus on youth, education and recreation.
Harold the Giraffe is set to hit the road again with the Life Education Trust Heartland Otago Southland receiving $10,000 towards delivering its health education programme to primary and intermediate schools.
"With the help of ... Otago Community Trust, we can continue to deliver the Life Education programme to tamariki ... continuing to inspire generations to make positive choices regarding their health and wellbeing," Life Education’s Dana Young said.
Life Education visits schools in a mobile classroom to teach students about healthy living and understanding their bodies and expects to reach 4600 pupils in Otago, including the south, this year.
Kahu Youth Trust received $75,000 in funding to support its broad range of programmes for young people ages 11-24 in the Upper Clutha region.
This includes after-school clubs, holiday programmes, mentoring, support groups, skills building workshops, and more.
"We are thrilled with the significant funding boost Otago Community Trust has given towards Kahu Youth Trust," operations director Anna Sutherland said.
"This generous support will enable us to maintain the accessibility of our quality programmes and expand to offer more opportunities for our local youth — empowering them to live their best lives."
Other community organisations receiving grants to assist people in the area include Pregnancy Help Dunedin, Aphasia New Zealand Charitable Trust, Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association, Otago Cricket and Stage South Charitable Trust, who foster and promote the sustainability of professional theatre in Otago and Southland.
"We are thrilled to support such a diverse range of important community initiatives through our first funding round for 2024," Otago Community Trust (OCT) chairman Andy Kilsby said.
OCT has details of further funding programmes online.
