Youth Programmes and Environmental Projects Share in $640k Grant Round
7 Aug 2025
Otago Community Trust is pleased to announce it has approved 57 grants totalling $640,959 in July. From youth development programmes to environmental restoration projects, these grants reflect the huge range of mahi happening throughout Otago.
Youth Development Reaching Rural Communities
The Alexandra and Districts Youth Trust (Puna Rangatahi) has been awarded $30,000 to fund their range of dedicated to youth programmes. This funding will enable the trust to maintain their comprehensive youth services, including drop-in sessions, mentoring programmes, and community events. The grant also supports their vital outreach initiatives that extend from Millers Flat to Maniototo, ensuring young people across these rural areas have direct access to essential support services.
M!NT Charitable Trust was granted $11,000 for their core programmes serving young people with intellectual disabilities in the Upper Clutha region. Since starting in 2019, these programmes have filled a significant gap, providing adapted gym equipment, yoga, dance classes, holiday programmes and sporting events.
Environmental Stewardship
Community-led environmental initiatives received substantial support, with $25,000 each going to Save the Otago Peninsula Society (STOP Inc.) and WAI Wānaka. STOP Inc. will continue their landscape-scale native revegetation work, planting over 1,000 eco-sourced native trees to enhance water quality and provide habitat along Smiths Creek Catchment.
WAI Wānaka, now in its ninth year, will expand their community education and freshwater protection work, including school programmes on freshwater species and community monitoring of stream health.
“We are incredibly grateful to Otago Community Trust for supporting WAI Wānaka. This funding grant is a vital boost for our community and the deep water alpine lakes of the Upper Clutha. It will help raise awareness of the pressures these ecosystems face and equip people with the knowledge and tools they need to take meaningful action” said Cat Dillon - CEO, WAI Wānaka.
Cultural and Community Events
The Otago Festival of the Arts Trust received $185,000 toward the 2027 Dunedin Arts Festival, which continues to evolve its programming to increase accessibility and diversity. The biennial festival, established in 2000, will feature over 50 events across 10 days, engaging an estimated 20,000+ attendees.
Cromwell's community spirit was supported with $25,000 for the Cromwell and Districts Promotion Group, enabling events like Light Up Winter, and the annual Street Party & Fireworks.
Caitlyn Dykes, Chair of the Cromwell & Districts Promotion Group said “Otago Community Trust's support and funding has allowed us to continue putting on our annual events that celebrate and promote Cromwell, including the Cromwell Street Party & Fireworks... In particular, this funding has been instrumental in helping Light Up Winter continue to grow year on year — with numbers up again on last year, it’s become a much-anticipated and not-to-be-missed winter event, attracting locals and out-of-town visitors alike.”
Safe Play Spaces for Tamariki
Recognising that safe play environments are fundamental to child development and community wellbeing, several grants addressed playground and school facility needs. Musselburgh School received $26,500 to replace a 40-year-old playground, creating new opportunities for free play in the community. Smaller but equally important grants supported playground improvements at Taieri Parents Centre ($15,000) and safety upgrades at Weston Playcentre ($3,000).
“This grant is going to help us with the installation of an outdoor playground at our centre located in Mosgiel. Playgrounds play a critical role in children’s development fostering physical, cognitive and social skills and we are excited to be able to provide this to the children and families who visit the Taieri Parents Centre” said Kim Jones, secretary for Taieri Parents Centre.
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Otago Community Trust Grants, July 2025 |
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Alexandra |
Central Otago Whitewater Inc |
3,000.00 |
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Alexandra and Districts Youth Trust |
2,972.00 |
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Alexandra and Districts Youth Trust |
30,000.00 |
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Ōmakau Bowling Club |
10,500.00 |
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Alexandra Toy Library |
1,500.00 |
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Balclutha |
The Clutha Budget Advisory Service |
9,990.00 |
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Cromwell |
Cromwell Scout Group |
10,000.00 |
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Cromwell and Districts Promotion Group Inc |
25,000.00 |
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Chamber Music at the World's Edge Foundation |
5,000.00 |
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Dunedin |
Dunedin Community House Trust Inc |
1,089.00 |
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South Dunedin Community Network Inc |
4,273.00 |
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Greater Green Island Community Network Charitable Trust |
4,950.00 |
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Dunedin Community Mediation Trust |
2,500.00 |
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Otago Hockey Assn (1990) Inc |
5,000.00 |
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Anglican Family Care |
3,000.00 |
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Otago University Students' Assn Inc |
2,500.00 |
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Otago Youth Wellness Trust |
3,860.00 |
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Tamariki Together |
4,347.00 |
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Dunedin Group Riding for the Disabled Assn Inc |
6,173.00 |
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Presbyterian Support Otago |
9,770.00 |
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Te Hou Ora Whānau Services Limited |
10,000.00 |
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Otago Youth Wellness Trust |
9,372.00 |
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Aroha Ki Te Tamariki |
20,000.00 |
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Musselburgh School |
26,500.00 |
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Citizens Advice Bureau Dunedin Incorporated |
10,000.00 |
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Save the Otago Peninsula (STOP) Society Inc |
25,000.00 |
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Otago Polytechnic - Pacific Island Scholarships |
10,000.00 |
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The Methodist Church Of New Zealand Te Haahi Weteriana O Aotearoa Dunedin Methodist Parish |
6,900.00 |
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Otago Festival of the Arts Trust |
185,000.00 |
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University of Otago Rugby Incorporated |
2,000.00 |
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The Nest Collective NZ Charitable Trust |
3,500.00 |
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Otago Society for Music Education, operating as Music Education Otago |
1,200.00 |
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Mosgiel |
Taieri Parents Centre Inc |
15,000.00 |
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Mosgiel Ballet Society Inc |
1,500.00 |
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Mosgiel Piping and Dancing Society |
2,000.00 |
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Ōamaru |
North Otago Group Riding for the Disabled Association Inc |
5,625.00 |
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Excelsior Rugby and Associated Sports Club |
14,500.00 |
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Te Hā o Maru Health and Social Services |
5,990.00 |
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Weston Playcentre |
3,000.00 |
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Otago |
NZ Curling Assn Inc |
3,240.00 |
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Disability Information Service Inc T/A Livingwell Disability Resource Centre |
3,850.00 |
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Cosy Homes Charitable Trust |
1,530.00 |
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The Girl Guides Association New Zealand Inc |
10,000.00 |
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Special Olympics Otago Trust |
18,975.00 |
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Show Me Shorts Film Festival Trust |
4,800.00 |
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Tangata Whenua Community and Voluntary Sector Research Centre Inc |
8,000.00 |
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Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club |
5,000.00 |
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Other |
Play It Strange Trust |
14,000.00 |
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Ranfurly |
Radio Charity |
3,500.00 |
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Roxburgh |
Roxburgh Area School |
10,000.00 |
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Wānaka |
WAI Wānaka |
3,800.00 |
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Alpine Community Development Trust |
3,000.00 |
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Wānaka Community Workshop Trust |
4,335.00 |
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Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust |
5,000.00 |
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Wānaka Riding for the Disabled Inc (RDA) |
3,418.00 |
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Mint Charitable Trust |
11,000.00 |
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WAI Wānaka |
25,000.00 |
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