Welcome to our November Newsletter. It’s hard to believe that Christmas and the summer holidays are just around the corner. After some typical spring weather madness, it is nice to see the days draw out. This time of year is always a very busy one for organisations across the sector and here at the Trust we have also been busy with two large granting rounds in September and October with close to 100 applications being approved to support some great community projects.

Below is a quick summary of our recent grant approvals for September and October 2022.

In recent years Kaikorai Valley College has developed its own Urban Farm on land at the back of the school. This is a unique and outstanding learning environment that has become a valuable and popular part of the Kaikorai Valley College learning experience and that of other visiting schools. Kaikorai Valley College's Urban Farm programme was one Otago Community Trust’s Learning Impact Fund recipents back in 2018. A grant of $142,300 was approved to support the programme at that point in time. Over the last four years it has continued to develop and evolve to support learning differently.

The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust celebrates connections between the geological, natural, and cultural heritage of the Waitaki District by providing a unifying platform for stories relating to significant sites. Otago Community Trust was pleased to have provided a $20,000 grant to fund Project Aware and Care in 2021 - an interpretation and signage development project to protect and promote 20 of the Geopark sites.

Te Whare Puāwai O Totomairaro Inc Charitable Trust is an entity based in the town of Milton, Otago, with a focus on delivering mana-enhancing activities for local whānau across the full spectrum of the Whānau Ora outcomes framework. Central to the Trust’s function was the desire to secure a common space where whānau can come together in the community to engage in a range of activities. Otago Community Trust was proud to support the Spenser Street, Whānau Community Whare Project in 2021 and it is rewarding to learn more about the benefits that have now been realised.

The first round of applications under the Tamariki and Rangatahi Sector Capability Fund were considered at the Trust’s October board meeting. This new fund, under the Trust’s new Tamariki and Rangatahi Strategy which was launched this year, are designed to fund projects and activities that support organisations working in the youth sector to grow and succeed.

Otago Community Trust aims to be a broad community funder; however, we recognise we cannot meet all demands for funding. Previously, as a general policy the Trust has not considered applications from Aged Care / Rest Home Facilities as the Trust does not have the resources to support these facilities with grant funding in competition with commercial finance and commercial activities. However, in August this policy was reviewed by the board and changes made.

The Otago Community Trust is a significant supporter of the sport and recreation sector. To maximise the effectiveness of its funding of the sector, in 2021 the Trust requested a scan of the sector to understand the current and anticipated future shape and state of sport and recreation. This research was conducted by RSL Consultancy. The full report is enclosed in the below article and now on the Otago Community Trust website.

Inspiring tamariki and rangatahi to develop a love of reading and writing by bringing a writer or illustrator into their classroom is the core focus of Read NZ Te Pou Muramura's Writers in Schools programme. Otago Community Trust has supported the programme for several years and pleased to see award-winning writer, poet and GP, Glenn Colquhoun and also children’s author Juliette MacIver in a wide variety of Otago schools this year.

The Funding Network NZ’s Generosity Generator is an online fundraising training programme specifically designed for small, grassroots charities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The programme teaches you how to plan, create and promote a successful crowdfunding campaign and how to grow your giving community. It also provides a unique opportunity to put this learning into action through a 12 day crowdfunding campaign on Givealittle.

Incorporated societies are invited to visit an information hub established by Parry Field Lawyers that shares articles, guides, videos, FAQs, and links to upcoming free seminars to get prepared to take action under the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022.

Hundreds of community leaders came together to share their views about what is good governance. Their wisdom is now captured in one place - in a practical Code - designed to support boards and board members in what can be a tough role. Good Governance is fundamental to the success of an organisation. By getting your governance right, you will have capable, diverse, and engaged board members, a strategy about how to achieve your organisation’s ambitions and serve your community, and ensure your organisation is operating in a legal and ethical manner.

The Youth Movement Fund Aotearoa, launched in early November, it is an innovative grassroots fund supporting young people and youth movements in NZ.

The Grand Business South Awards 2022 is almost here Otago and we are really looking forward to celebrating the region’s innovative and talented businesses /community groups at the Awards gala dinner on November 18 at the Dunedin Town Hall.