Eight Wānaka groups have received funding in Otago Community Trust’s (OCT) latest funding round.

The trust distributes funding to community groups and organisations across Otago each month and in its July round it granted more than half a million dollars.

Local recipients included the Wānaka Yacht Club, which received $3,500 to go towards the cost of two used RS Fevas, which are two-person sailing dinghies often used by young sailors.

Wānaka Yacht Club youth sailing coordinator Roger North told the Wānaka App the RS Fevas would be used for the club’s Learn To Sail programmes and by other youth sailors in the club.

The local club has seen a surge in youth participation in recent years and it is one of the most active clubs in the South Island.

Also benefiting from the July funding round was Winter Games NZ, which received $10,000 towards this year’s Games.

The 2024 Winter Games NZ will kick off next Friday (August 23) and run until September 8 at ski fields across the district including Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Read more: Winter Games NZ events upgrade

Other recipients include Snow Sports NZ (SSNZ), which received $5,000 to go towards the SSNZ Junior Freestyle Nationals 2024, which begins on September 30.

The Wānaka Arts Society received $3,000 to go towards the annual Wānaka Arts Labour Weekend Exhibition and Sale; WAI Wānaka received $15,000 for an ‘urban activation’ project; and One New Zealand received $25,000 for community non-profit group Wao.

Wānaka Backyard Trapping received two grants totalling $11,300 - the first to go towards its predator-free trapping programme and the second for a rebrand and the implementation of a donation system.

Hāwea Playground Inc received $5,000 to go towards its playscape project.

Across the region grants supported a wide range of projects.

A statement from OCT said they reinforced the trust’s commitment to “supporting strong, vibrant communities throughout the Otago region”. 

PHOTO: Wānaka App