Waipā community funding round opens

The Community Discretionary Fund, which supports community activities or projects, opens on Monday 5 July.

Waipā District Council’s Group Manager, Strategy and Community Services Debbie Lascelles said the 2021/22 year’s fund, totaling $126,800, would be distributed in two rounds as opposed to one as in previous years.

“We think breaking up the funding allocation into two rounds, one in September and another early next year in April, will allow funding to be distributed more evenly across the year.

“I would encourage all community groups with a suitable project to take a look at the council website and start their application. This is an opportunity for non-profit community groups to get projects underway where funding has been a constraint in the past.”

The 2020/21 community discretionary fund helped Roto-o-Rangi School upgrade their school pool, Pirongia Forest Park Lodge install a long-drop toilet and buy sustainable camping equipment, and Te Rahu District Hall Society to build a new accessibility ramp for the community, amongst many other groups.

This year’s fund will be distributed in two rounds with the first closing on 13 August 2021. Applications from this round will be considered at the September Te Awamutu and Cambridge Community Board meetings. A second round will open early next year and be considered in April. Funding is typically allocated for amounts between $200 and $2,000+GST but applications seeking larger funding amounts may also be considered.

Application forms, funding criteria and further information about the Community Discretionary Fund is available at www.waipadc.govt.nz/funding.