Otago Community Trust (OCT) has had a steady flow of applications to its dedicated COVID-19 Response Fund, with nearly $400,000 of grants awarded so far.

Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger said the trust has had a wide range of applications; a number to assist with technology, and others related to increased demand for essential services and the growing costs associated with this.

“The fund is very much focused on supporting community organisations in meeting the additional costs of delivering services, projects or activities to members of the community most in need as a result of COVID-19,” Barbara said.

The trust has had to decline a number of applications which do not meet the fund’s criteria, and Barbara sought to remind people the fund was not established to compensate for loss of income due to COVID-19.

One of the goals of the fund is to help to provide support to community organisations which are incurring additional costs related to expansion of services as a result of COVID-19, she said.

Brian Lowe from Youthline Otago said support from the COVID-19 Response Fund has enabled the region-wide organisation to employ a second dedicated triage staff member to support the Helpline counselling team during peak times.

“In April, our client interactions increased 105 per cent above usual levels and support for mental distress increased 68 per cent,” Brian said. “This allows us to safely manage the increased volume of work that has resulted from COVID-19.”

In addition to grants to numerous other region-wide organisations, OCT has given $25,000 to each of the region’s local territorial authorities, including Queenstown Lakes District Council, whose Emergency Operations Centre has leapt into action in response to COVID-19. 

The $2M COVID-19 Response Fund was opened in early April. To date, the trust has awarded $397,434 to 29 community organisations across Otago. 

OCT has also approved grants of just over $525,000 in support of a wide range of community projects in its April funding round.

These included grants of $30,000 each to Wanaka Tennis Club and the Alpine Community Development Trust, and $10,000 to Wanaka Golf Club, with the balance going to 13 other community organisations.

PHOTO: Sharron Bennett Photography