The Otago Community Trust (OCT) has created a two million dollar COVID-19 response fund.

At an urgent meeting - the trust’s first ever virtual meeting - earlier this week, trustees unanimously decided to immediately create a dedicated fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new fund is “an effort to reassure those community organisations that may be facing increased costs or responding to greater need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown that help will be available,” OCT chair Ross McRobie said.

Ross is a former Wanaka resident and Queenstown Lakes District councillor. He is now serving as a councillor for the Waitaki District and lives in Otematata. 

In a statement the OCT said it knew it was important now more than ever to respond quickly and effectively to support the community. 

“Our key commitment to the community is that we wish to be flexible and responsive at this time,” trust chief executive Barbara Bridger said.

“We will provide more information on the criteria and application process to our social services and community-based organisations in the near future.”

The OCT’s investment portfolio is robust, and designed to navigate good and bad years and the current challenging financial downturn, Ross said. 

“We have a good level of accumulated-income reserves in place to support Otago.” 

The board will be setting its 2020/2021 grants budget for the coming year soon and it will continue its commitment to supporting our local communities. 

‘Business as usual’ community grants were also approved at the meeting, with $947,451 going to nine community organisations in March. 

The Otago Community Trust provides grants to not-for-profit community groups and projects that make a positive contribution to Otago communities. Learn more about it here.

PHOTO: Supplied