Final round for micro-funding
The final round of funding for mental wellbeing initiatives to boost Southern Lakes communities opens in early April.
Run by Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group, the Connecting Communities microfund supports community-led activities and events across Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell, and Te Anau/Fiordland.
Te Hau Toka Chair Adell Cox says Government funding ends 30 June.
"We’re mindful that this is our last big opportunity to help communities set themselves up to keep prioritising mental health and wellbeing and looking after each other beyond the end of our funding.
"While we’re through the COVID pandemic, we know that our communities are still recovering and battling challenges like burnout, cost of living, loneliness and isolation which continue to impact on their wellbeing.
"Every community across the region is different and they’re best placed to know what works for them. We really want to hear their ideas, whether they’re new or carrying on with ones that are going really well."
The final funding round runs from 8-18 April. Eligible not-for-profit organisations and groups can apply for up to $1,000 to assist with funding their activity or event.
The previous funding round in November 2023 saw a record $91,500 distributed across 110 initiatives in the region.
Cox says since the microfunding model launched in November 2021 it’s become one of Te Hau Toka most successful initiatives.
"It shows the power of supporting people to find their own solutions," she says.
"We’ve seen how providing a little bit of money across a lot of people every few months has enabled communities to come up with their own innovative ways to combat the different mental health and wellbeing challenges they’re experiencing.
"Other organisations have recognised the success of our community-led microfunding model and are interested in replicating it so we’ve been sharing our learnings with them. We strongly believe that this model works and want to do everything we can to bridge the gap our funding will leave when it finishes."
More details, including how to apply, can be found at www.southernhealth.nz/tehautoka
