Communities across the Southern Lakes region will receive a boost this winter with more mental wellbeing initiatives to be funded by the Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group.

Round three of Te Hau Toka’s Connecting Communities fund opens on Monday July 4 and closes on Thursday July 14. 

The fund is designed to support community-led activities and events across Wānaka, Cromwell, Queenstown and Te Anau/Fiordland which encourage people to find ways to connect, look after themselves and each other, and have some fun.

Eligible not-for-profit organisations and groups can apply for up to $1,000 (GST inclusive) in this round to assist with funding their activity or event. 

Te Hau Toka is looking for activities and events to fund that engage positively with the local community; support mental wellbeing; align with one or more of the Five Ways to Wellbeing and Te Whare Tapa Wha; are delivered in Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell, or Te Anau/Fiordland; and can be adapted to comply with any Covid restrictions.

Te Hau Toka Group chair Adell Cox said her team is looking forward to hearing from communities across the Southern Lakes region.

“Ultimately, the goal of our Connecting Communities funding is to enable people to improve mental wellbeing, connection and resilience in their own communities,” she said.

“Some areas are gearing up for a busy winter ski season and will have a different set of stresses to those communities who just need to get through the quiet months. Each community is different and they’re best placed to know what they need and how they can support each other.

“We’ve been blown away in every funding round to see such inspiring and innovative ideas coming from all corners of the community so we want to continue do whatever we can to help make them happen.”

More details about the Connecting Communities fund, including the criteria and how to apply, can be found online here.

PHOTO: Supplied