MEDIA RELEASE

May 13, 2002

Community groups get $400,000

Community organisations will receive more than $400,000 in grants from the Auckland City Council.
The council’s Community Services Committee will allocate a total of $410,000 in the following priority areas:
- Youth
- Maori
- Pacific people
- Asian/migrant/refugee
- Education and employment
- The arts
The council’s Community Group Assistance Policy 2000 stipulates that groups’ activities must contribute to the following values:
- participation
- volunteerism
- sustainability
- equity
- bi-culturalism
- innovation
- diversity.

The grants are split into two types of funding – one for projects that are of benefit to Auckland City residents from a citywide perspective, and one for building the capacity of community organisations to deliver on their core business.

In the projects fund, for which there was $160,000 available, the committee received 153 applications requesting a total of $1.8 million. Of these, 69 applications will receive grants which range from about $500 to $10,000.

The committee received 150 applications requesting a total of $2.7 million out of the capacity-building fund. The total available for distribution was $250,000 including $50,000 for the arts. Altogether 82 applications will receive grants which range from about $400 to $10,000.

A significant number of applications in both categories did not comply with one or more of the assessment criteria. Many applications have been referred to more appropriate funding sources such as Creative Communities and Creative New Zealand.

Chairperson of the Community Services Committee, Councillor Graeme Mulholland, says, “We’re thrilled to be able to make these grants. We hope the groups use the money wisely and their projects are successful – and, more importantly, are able to meet the needs of the Auckland community.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media