Central Lakes Trust (CLT) has closed out the year with more than $2.1M in community grants, including investment in education in the Upper Clutha.

At its final meeting for 2024, the trust signed off on $2,188,484, in funding for organisations across the region - bringing its total grants since inception to more than $170M.

A large chunk of the month’s grants - more than $765,000 - will go towards the Central Otago Principals Association School Referral Programme (COPA), which supports students with complex learning, behavioural and mental health needs through personalised interventions.

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College is among the schools set to benefit, alongside Wakatipu High School, Cromwell College, Dunstan High School, and Roxburgh Area School.

The initiative benefits both students and staff by ensuring tailored support where it’s needed most, CLT chief executive Barbara Bridger said.

“Education is the foundation of strong communities,” she said.

“By empowering schools to tailor support for students with complex needs, we’re helping create environments where every learner has the opportunity to succeed.”

It was a substantial funding round for local grants more broadly.

Friends of Bullock Creek received a $19,500 operational grant; Hāwea Flat School got a $19,583 boost for its pool upgrade; and Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust benefited from an operational grant of $25,000. 

Te Kura o Take Kārarara also received $10,000 for fencing for its play area; while Upper Clutha A&P Society got a $7,284 grant for a kitchen upgrade; and a $55,985 grant for the Wānaka Squash Club will go towards its bathroom renovations.

A substantial half a million dollar grant will help fund the new Presbyterian church and community centre in Hāwea.

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PHOTO: Supplied