New and old benefit from community grants

The North Shore City Council has awarded grants worth more than $1.4m to its city's arts, cultural, youth, leisure and community sectors. A total of 93 applications were considered and approved to support organisations that strengthen the fabric of the community and add vibrancy to North Shore City.

Community services and parks committee chairperson, Margaret Miles, says she is pleased the council was once again able to help a wide range of community groups this year.

"The recipients are all worthy organisations that provide a huge range of services to the community, and most of them are able to do that only because they have tremendous support from volunteers. We're very grateful to these groups and to individual volunteers who provide so much help to their communities.

"Often the volunteers are overlooked - but this is a way that we can recognise their work and can add so much more to our culture and lifestyle within the city," Councillor Miles says.

Among the recipients are some of North Shore City's key community organisations that reach significant milestones in their history this year. Age Concern turned 35 in June, Takapuna Citizens Advice Bureau passed the 25-year mark in September and Mairangi Arts Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary in December.

The following projects represent the diversity of funding: Te Whanau Tu Tonu O Oruamo, an urban Maori organisation, was granted $4000 towards its Te Reo and Kapa Haka projects for the benefit of the Birkdale-Beach Haven community; Torbay Community Association received $14000 to undertake repairs and upgrading of the community-owned hall; and Raeburn House, also celebrating 20 years of service in Milford as part of the North Shore Community Health Network, received $3000 to publish a migrant resource directory.

North Shore City's six community boards are in the process of reviewing their community support discretionary grants applications for local community initiatives.

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