For 26 years Dunstan High School has had a fantastic teaching and learning resource in the form of a high ropes course. In August 2019 the complete structure was blown over in a storm. It was a devastating loss for the school, pupils and the wider community. It had been for 26 years a fantastic teaching and learning resource.The new course is now complete, the measure of success can clearly be seen in the faces of the participants when they have successfully supported each other to reach the top!

Welcome to our first Newsletter for 2021. Our team is pleased to be back in the office after the summer holidays and we have been busy processing applications, visiting community groups and responding to a wide variety of enquiries as the new year kicks off.

Otago Community Trust work closely with a number of funding bodies across Otago and we endeavour to hold funding clinics in a wide variety of locations around Otago throughout the year. We are pleased to report that funding clinics have begun for 2021.

Otago Community Trust was delighted to support Blessed Box in our final grants round in December last year. A $8,000 grant was awarded to support the newly established charity with the development of the care packages for mothers with new babies in the Clutha District.

Regional Sport funding is considered by the Trust annually in a single round which will close off on the 31 March 2021. Outcomes are then announced at the end of June.

Below is a quick summary of our recent grant approvals for February.

The Lottery COVID-19 Community Wellbeing Fund is now open.

The Dunedin Fringe Festival is the world’s southernmost Fringe Festival. The annual festival happens every March timed to coincide with other fringe festivals in New Zealand and Australia. This year it kicks off from the 17th of March with an amazing programme on offer.

This latest report outlines Government and Philanthropic support through COVID-19 response.

The Community Organisation Grants Scheme or COGS is a scheme which provides government-funded grants to support voluntary and not-for-profit organisations working in local communities and neighbourhoods.

The team at Department of Internal Affairs Hāpai Hapori (Community Operations) have advised that their webpage with the 2020/21 funding calendar dates has now been updated in Community Matters.

The new year is a great time to think about professional development. The Otago Chamber of Commerce offer a range of courses targeted at the Not For Profit Sector. These courses are generously subsidised by the Otago Community Trust for Not For Profit organisations.

Trustees and staff of the Otago Community Trust invite members of the Owaka, Kaka Point and wider Catlins community to join them for afternoon tea at the Owaka Library, Wednesday 17th of March from 2.30pm.

Are you or your organisation a champion for promoting greater gender balance and diversity in the governance and leadership space?

Exciting times coming up with the ASB Otago Sports awards set to go ahead on the 21st of May at the Arena in the Edgar Centre.