MEDIA RELEASE

01 April 2014

Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) opens

More than $12 million is available to support community groups with the opening of the Community Organisation Grants Scheme funding round for 2014/15.

Approximately $12.5 million will be distributed by 37 Local Distribution Committees of elected volunteers, who will consider and make decisions on grant applications from community organisations. The funding supports organisations to deliver community-based social services that make a difference in their communities. In previous years COGS has funded activities such as adult learning services, friendship groups for seniors, assistance for families in need, support for older people and budgeting services.

The scheme is administered by the Department of Internal Affairs. The Department is making changes to improve the way COGS grants are processed and assessed. This will be done in two phases.

During the first phase, in 2014, dates are changing and timeframes are being streamlined. The closing date for applications has been brought forward to Wednesday May 14. COGS applications will be processed quicker and community groups will find out the outcome of their applications sooner. Successful applicants will receive their grants earlier in the year, from August 2014.

In 2015, phase two will see COGS go live on a new online application system which will simplify the process of applying for funding. This is part of work that aims to collect information from community groups once, reduce the number of questions asked, and give community groups more transparency about where their application sits within the decision-making process.

Groups who have applied to COGS in the previous three years have been contacted by email to alert them to these changes and Department staff are currently hosting public meetings throughout New Zealand. More information (including a timeline) can found on the Community Matters website at the link below:

http://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/Funding-and-grants---Crown-Funds---Community-Organisation-Grants-Scheme

Help with making an application is available by phone on 0800 824 824 or at one of the Department’s regional offices. Office locations can be found at the link below:

http://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/Contact-us

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