The trust has granted $100,000 to the Hampden Community Energy Society and $180,000 to the Whalan Lodge Trust in Kurow.
The grant for the Hampden group will support the new community workshop and garden complex. The new complex will provide a facility for school pupils and community members to work in a central place, sharing skills, knowledge and resources.
Hampden Community Energy Society chairman Dugald MacTavish said the project was being co-ordinated jointly between the Hampden school and local community, and it was "just fantastic" to have Otago Community Trust’s support and vote of confidence for this critical first stage.
"It’s a three-stage project. This first and most important stage is the engineering and craft workshop, which will allow the group to get the project under way quickly, and then be used to house the equipment and provide the space to help construct the other buildings."
Every day they heard more stories of social and economic stress, and their group thought a good response to that was to build local capacity with facilities for creativity, skill sharing and simply enjoying each other’s company within their village, he said.
Otago Community Trust chairman Diccon Sim said the trust was pleased to be supporting the exciting community development in Hampden.
Whalan Lodge Trust in Kurow also received funding support for a large capital project that will support the expansion and redevelopment of the Awakino Wing of the Lodge, specifically the portico and courtyard dining and deck area.
Whalan Lodge Trust spokesman Peter McIlraith said the trust committee was delighted to hear a grant of $180,000 had been approved.
"Whalan Lodge exists due to the commitment of the citizens of the area who give hundreds of hours of voluntary service for the establishment to survive. This community grant means so much to our small community.
"We all know that the failure to keep up with the demand for aged accommodation and care has the potential to force many older rural people to live away from their immediate families."
Otago Community Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger said the Trust recently updated its funding policy in relation to rural health care facilities, including aged care and rest-home facilities, to minimise the inequities rural Otago communities were facing in gaining access to health and aged residential care services.
"This is the first grant trustees have approved with the new policy in place. This rural district has only one rest-home; there are no other like facilities in a radius of 60km."
The trust acknowledged it was very important rural residents could remain within their own communities, retaining their dignity and remaining part of the community they had supported throughout their lives, and they were pleased to support Whalan Lodge Trust to continue to do just that, she said.
Other organisations benefiting from grants in October included Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepoti, who received a $30,738 grant to support the Whare Hangarau programme focused on creating opportunities for rangatahi to start pathways into digital careers.
The Kaitangata & District Promotions Inc was awarded a $15,000 grant to assist with the cost of developing a memorial garden on the old Kaitangata Memorial Hall site, and the UpsideDowns Education Trust received $5,000 to support families receiving speech and language therapy services for children with Down Syndrome.
In total, Otago Community Trust approved just over $940,000 to 67 organisations in October 2022, including Arts Capability funding of $60,000 to seven Dunedin based arts and culture organisations for capability-based initiatives in areas of governance and management.
Otago Community Trust grants
Central Otago A & P Association, $4062; Kaitangata & District Promotions Inc, $15,000; South Otago Agricultural & Pastoral Soc, $2000; Kaitangata Golf Club Inc, $3000; Tarras School, $15,000; Otago Polytechnic — Pacific Island Scholarships, $10,000; Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepoti, $30,738; Otago Youth Wellness Trust, $90,000; Santa Parade Trust, $15,000; CCS Disability Action Otago Inc, $17,500; Creative Arts Trust — Artsenta, $13,700; Anglican Family Care, $5000; Dunedin Edinburgh Sister City Society Inc, $6000; Dunedin Philippine Club Inc, $2000; Waikouaiti District Museum Soc Inc, $1000; Karitane Bowling Club Inc, $2000; SuperGrans Dunedin Charitable Trust, $10,000; Dunedin Musicians Club Inc, $4905; University of Otago — Division of Sciences, $4452; Tokomairiro High School, $23,000; Taieri Mouth Multisport Event, $863; Whalan Lodge Trust, $180,000; Hampden Community Energy Society Inc, $100,000; Filipino Waitaki Incorporated, $5600; Oamaru Combined Churches Christmas Parcels Trust, $2000; Waitaki Summer Music Camp, $2500; North Otago Cricket Assn Inc, $2000; Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations Committee, $8000; Waitaki District Council — Community Events, $10,000; Skeggs Foundation, $33,180; Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind Inc, $10,000; Surf Life Saving New Zealand Inc, $25,000; Otago Softball Assn Inc, $6000; Perinatal Mental Health New Zealand, $1716; The UpsideDowns Education Trust, $5000; People First New Zealand Inc, $2000; Enabling Love New Zealand, $2000; Maungatua Presbyterian Church, $3000; Challenge Wanaka Sports Trust, $15,000; Kahu Youth Trust, $55,450; Mint Charitable Trust, $15,000; Hawea-Wanaka Pony Club Branch Inc, $5000; Southern Lakes Model Fliers Club Inc, $2000; Wanaka Preschool Early Childhood Centre, $5672; Upper Clutha Historical Records Society, $2500; Wanaka Associated Football Club Inc, $5000; Dunedin Midwinter Celebrations Trust, $5440; Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust, $9980; Dunedin Wildlife Trust, $10,000; iD Dunedin Fashion Inc Soc, $8060; Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, $9920; International Festival Environment Science Technology Dun NZ Inc, $9000; Otago Festival of the Arts Trust, $7600.
