Trust sets $9.45 million grants budget for new financial year

Among those to receive funding was Arrowtown Matariki Lights.

The Central Lakes Trust (CLT) board has approved a $9.45 million grants budget to assist charitable causes within the Central Lakes region for its new financial year, commencing April 1, 2023.

Trust chair Linda Robertson says “The trustees have been keeping a close watch on our financials given ongoing market uncertainty. While we endeavour to ensure we preserve our capital for future generations, we have been able to maintain our grants budget in the vicinity of what has been granted this year, which is fantastic for our community and its charitable causes.”

This latest board meeting saw 13 grants approved totalling $664,887. Among those was support for Arrowtown Matariki Lights 2023, which is to be held on Friday, July 14 and will feature performances, light art and music.

The Matariki holiday weekend celebrates the beginning of the Māori new year. 

“It is a chance to learn about the significance of the Matariki cluster of stars. The festival recognises the area which is traditionally important to local iwi as a meeting point and intersection of many tracks and pathways into the region,” CLT grants manager Mat Begg says. 

Meanwhile, Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand receives $102,000 towards supporting children and their families from the CLT region to stay at various Ronald McDonald House facilities across Aotearoa New Zealand while receiving medical treatment.

Another group to receive support is Food for Love with a grant of over $98,000 towards the costs of preparing and distributing meals for those in need in the Upper Clutha area.

Last year Ronald McDonald House assisted 106 families from the region. “Our region does not have the medical services often required, and families have to travel to receive that much needed treatment. That Ronald McDonald House puts these people up for little or no charge is a significant benefit to those in need,” Mr Begg says.

The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust also receives $20,000 to support families from the CLT region who are in need of lifesaving medical treatment at Christchurch Hospital from the to stay at Ranui House.

Bone Marrow Cancer Trust chief executive Mandy Kennedy says “Providing a welcoming environment, within easy walking distance of the hospital greatly reduces the stress and anxiety these patients and families are already under having to travel from their homes to receive treatment.”

While Ronald McDonald House provides for children and their families, the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust provides for patients of all ages and all treatment types who require support while attending Christchurch Hospital.

Another group to receive support is Food for Love with a grant of more than $98,000 towards the costs of preparing and distributing meals for those in need in the Upper Clutha area.

“Over 5,500 volunteer hours went towards making over 8,000 meals for people in the Upper Clutha last year, an invaluable service for those in need, supporting these groups to support our most in need in our community is a great cause. That CLT can contribute to ensure these services are available to our community is a wonderful thing,” Mr Begg says.

Wanaka Search and Rescue receive over $66,000 for costs associated with training and equipment, and construction of a new storage facility. While Wao receives $150,000 to support the delivery of the Wao Programme in 2023/24. Wao holds a range of programmes designed to inspire, educate and enable the community to build resilience to change and the environmental challenges facing them.

“Educating and enabling proactive action to address our environmental and climate change challenges is very topical given recent weather events. We look forward to hearing about the great work Wao will do with its range of programmes this year,” Mr Begg says.

In total $664,887 was granted at this recent meeting to close the financial year with the Trust granting a total of $9,061,714 for the year.

Image: Central Lakes Trust

Main image (Crux/Nikki McKay): Wanaka Search and Rescue receive over $66,000 for costs associated with training and equipment, and construction of a new storage facility.