Christmas Funding Boost for Dunedin Night Shelter

Media Release

Otago Community Trust approved over $1.3 million in grants to support of a wide range of community projects in what was the Trust’s final funding round for 2023 last week. The Dunedin Night Shelter, a pillar of support for the homeless community, received a substantial funding boost in the latest round of grants.

The Dunedin Night Shelter Trust was approved a $100,000 grant to support the renovations required to increase existing bed capacity and enhance accessibility. 

Clare Curran outgoing chairwoman for the Dunedin Night Shelter said that in response to the challenges posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Night Shelter conducted a comprehensive strategic review last year, pinpointing key areas that required urgent attention.

“One of the primary concerns highlighted was the inadequacy of the current dining, lounge, and kitchen spaces and the lack of a downstairs bedroom and accessible bathroom has been a longstanding issue.” Ms Curran said.

“Thanks to the $100,000 grant from Otago Community Trust, we now have a solid foundation to drive our fundraising campaign focused on “Building a Better Shelter” forward and ensure that the Night Shelter continues to operate and grow as a community asset for those in need.”

Otago Community Trust chief executive Jemma Adams said it is pleasing to see such a comprehensive design concept has been developed, featuring an extension of the Night Shelter's services in Dunedin. 

“The Trust is very pleased to be supporting the Dunedin Night Shelter Trust on this crucial journey to make the premise more fit for purpose, safe, and comfortable for all occupants.”

The Alexandra Elim Church Trust also received a large $180,000 capital grant to support its multi-purpose community space development which will include a 215-seat auditorium and two multi-functional spaces.

Senior pastor Aaron More said over the past three years the Church community has been developing plans and raising funds to transform the property in Ngapara St into a modern, multi-purpose facility.

“Thanks to the $180,000 grant from Otago Community Trust, the $250,000 from Central Lakes Trust and the $500,000 already raised, we are now well within reach of our funding target.” 

This second significant grant ensures we will be able to start the project in early 2024, we are just delighted that our vision for the facility and our community is becoming a reality, said More. 

Otago Community Trust chair Andy Kilsby said the Trust is pleased to be supporting the development of this significant community asset for the Alexandra and Central Otago area.

Our trustees have been impressed with the time and consideration that has been committed to the project and the fact that community groups including Alexandra Community Patrol and Alzheimer's Otago already used the church as a base. The prospect of additional community groups utilising the space upon completion, is encouraging to see, said Kilsby.

Other organisations benefiting from community grants in December included Lawrence Bike Club Incorporated who were approved a $25,000 grant to assist with the cost of developing a Mountain Bike trail in the Wetherstone Creek Reserve area. Youth Search and Rescue New Zealand Trust were approved a $16,500 grant to assist with the cost of setting up a Youth Search & Rescue (YSAR) programme in Dunedin, and a $30,000 grant was approved to Maniototo Ice Rink Inc to upgrade the Ice Rink's refrigeration plant. 

The Trust approved a $454,631 grant to Barnardos New Zealand under its Tamariki and Rangatahi Impact Fund to support the wellbeing strategy of Milton Primary School. Further information will be shared on this grant in the new year.

In total Otago Community Trust approved $1,305,775 to 67 organisations in December 2023, this included funding of $107,994 to 19 organisations for capability-based initiatives in areas of governance, management, strategic plan development and health and safety. The Trust’s capability funding is aimed at strengthening the systems of service delivery for not-for-profit organisations across Otago.

 

Otago Community Trust Community Grants, December 2023
Alexandra	Alexandra Elim Church Trust	$180,000
	Uruuruwhenua Health Incorporated	$15,000
	Central Otago Heritage Trust	$4,500
	Omakau Bowling Club	$10,000
Balclutha	Clinton Golf Club Inc	$5,000
	Owaka Rugby Football Club	$7,500
	Warepa School	$3,600
	Kaka Point Surf Life Saving Club	$5,000
Cromwell	Cromwell Museum Trust	$1,500
Dunedin	Tennis Otago Inc	$25,000
	Dunedin Night Shelter Trust	$100,000
	Dunedin Midwinter Celebrations Trust	$20,000
	Otago Sports Car Club Inc	$17,500
	Balaclava School	$9,200
	Islington Early Childhood Centre Incorporated	$7,500
	YSAR Trust (Youth Search and Rescue New Zealand)	$16,500
	CCS Disability Action Otago Inc	$17,500
	Andersons Bay Community Kindergarten Inc	$10,000
	Castle Charitable Trust	$4,600
	City of Dunedin Pipe Band Inc	$3,700
	SuperGrans Dunedin Charitable Trust	$10,000
	Taieri Mouth Amenities Soc	$9,000
	Dunedin Repertory Soc Inc	$2,500
	Acts of Kindness Charitable Trust	$10,000
	Hope Church Dunedin Incorporated	$1,000
	Dunedin Young Farmers Club	$2,000
	NZ Chinese Heritage Research CT	$3,000
	Ravensbourne Youth Yachting Trust	$18,500
Milton	Lawrence Chinese Camp Charitable Trust	$2,000
	Barnardos New Zealand	$454,631
	Lawrence Bike Club Incorporated	$25,000
Mosgiel	Taieri Dramatic Society Inc	$8,000
Oamaru	Harbour Street Jazz Inc	$15,500
	Waitaki Summer Music Camp	$2,500
Otago	Arts On Tour NZ	$20,000
	Stroke Foundation of NZ	$25,000
	InsideOUT Kōaro	$2,500
	Kiwi Family Trust	$3,250
	Surfing for Farmers Charitable Trust	$1,500
	Anxiety New Zealand Trust	$3,000
Ranfurly	Upper Taieri Wai Incorporated	$4,300
	Maniototo Ice Rink Inc	$30,000
Wanaka	Upper Clutha Tracks Trust	$30,000
	Alpine Community Development Trust	$20,000
	Mint Charitable Trust	$10,000
	Warbirds Over Wānaka Community Trust	$10,000
	Lake Hawea Community Centre Inc	$6,000
	QLDC - New Year's Eve Celebration	$5,000

 

Otago Community Trust Capability Grants, December 2023
Alexandra	Alexandra and Districts Youth Trust	$4,950
Balclutha	The Clutha Budget Advisory Service	$2,615
	Life Education Trust Heartland Otago Southland	$5,110
Cromwell	Cromwell Youth Trust	$4,088
Dunedin	Dunedin Community House Trust Inc	$4,942
	Football South	$5,000
	Anglican Family Care	$3,117
	Diving Ōtākou	$2,150
	ADL	$9,440
	Presbyterian Support Otago	$9,833
	Te Hou Ora Whānau Services Limited	$8,000
	Aroha Ki Te Tamariki	$9,500
Otago	The Work Opportunities Trust	$4,800
	Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust	$2,173
	Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi o Aotearoa - Playcentre Aotearoa	$10,000
Wanaka	Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust	$4,862
	Mint Charitable Trust	$2,750
	Wanaka Wastebusters	$5,000
	Kahu Youth Trust	$9,664