The Connecting Communities Fund was “inspiring, moving and meaningful”, an independent report has found.

The fund supported 556 not-for-profit groups across Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago between November 2021 and its final round this May.

Each of the eight funding rounds provided successful applicants with up to $1,000 to go towards community-led wellbeing activities which encouraged people to connect, look after themselves and each other, and have fun.

They included a huge range of local events and initiatives from Community Link’s WanaSoup to youth-led weekly pickleball sessions, ‘Make it M!NT’ upcycling workshops for people with intellectual disabilities to a pride flag mural at Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College, among many others.

“The highly visible initiative…extended the reach of mental wellbeing activities across the communities,” report author Dr Delwyn Goodrick said.

Delwyn, a psychologist who has been working as an academic and evaluation practitioner for the past 25 years, praised Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group, which delivered Connecting Communities.

“Being rural and heavily reliant on tourism, Southern Lakes communities were hit particularly hard by Covid-19 and Te Hau Toka’s work has been important in supporting recovery,” he said.

“Community ownership and participation have been key and the programme has demonstrated the power of collective action. Health promotion initiatives were undertaken with, and by the community, to strengthen mental wellbeing. Actions were informed by evidence. 

“The range of initiatives and groups supported ensured that mental wellbeing messages reached far and wide across communities.”

Connecting Communities was supported by the government’s Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan until funding ended in May.

Te Hau Toka chair Adell Cox welcomed the report and said she was “humbled by what’s been collectively achieved”. 

“It shows that building community capacity and resilience by giving people the tools, education and support to look after themselves – and others – is critically important in helping them recover from adversity.”

She said the lessons learned would help shape future programmes to respond to emergencies or unanticipated events.

A total of $504,000 was allocated across the duration of the Connecting Communities Fund.

PHOTO: Supplied