The latest Connecting Communities fund has invested $52,000 in initiatives designed to improve mental wellbeing across the Southern Lakes.

Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group has provided 54 groups with up to $1,000 each to help facilitate community-led activities that encourage people to connect, look after themselves and each other, and have some fun.

Projects which will be supported by the fund include M!NT Trust’s music therapy workshop for people with intellectual disabilities, YAMI SouNZ Summit’s May event, the Festival of Colour’s free community day and a Makarora Valley Inc community quiz night, among others.

Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group chair Adell Cox was delighted to see another surge of fresh ideas in the fourth round, particularly from cultural groups across the region.

“It’s wonderful to see different cultures focusing on how they can bring their communities together and support each other in a way that works uniquely for them,” she said. 

“But there are still common themes around celebrating diversity, welcoming newcomers to the region, forming stronger networks, and creating forums to openly discuss issues that affect their mental health and wellbeing.”

She said the trust was also pleased to support more Māori hauora initiatives in the latest round.

They include three free hui for men's hinengaro/mental wellbeing in Queenstown and a Te Ao Māori workshop.

Te Hau Toka introduced the Connecting Communities fund a year ago as part of its efforts to combat the ongoing negative effects of Covid-19.  

Since then, there have been four funding rounds, 185 recipients and nearly $180,000 injected across Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell, and Fiordland to help people improve mental wellbeing, social connection and resilience in their own communities.

The funding for Connecting Communities is made possible through the government’s Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery, and Re-Set Plan funding which is administered by the Te Whatu Ora Southern with the guidance of the Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group.

The next Connecting Communities funding round will be open from February 20 to March 2. 

Find more details about the fund here.

PHOTO: Supplied