Eleven organisations in the district have received funding through Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) ‘Get Active’ community grant.

The grant scheme was launched earlier this year to support eligible not-for-profit organisations and charities with entry passes allowing their customers to access different services at the council’s sport and recreation facilities.

While the grant was initially meant to support a maximum of six organisations, with support from Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing the number of recipients has almost doubled.

See also: ‘New community grant to help get people active’

Kahu Youth programme and events coordinator Samantha Strong said the vouchers the organisation has received will go a long way for the organisation.

“We will be using these vouchers in many of our after school programmes, and holiday programmes assisting families to get their youth moving," she said.

The grant is designed to help people who may not otherwise afford the facilities’ entry fees.

The organisation is one of 11 from across the district to receive a share of the $20,000 worth of vouchers.

Sports organisations are not eligible for the grant; instead it is designed to help people who might otherwise not be able to pay the entry fees to various sport and recreation services, such as the Wānaka swimming pool.

QLDC sport and recreation manager Simon Battrick said he was thrilled to see a broad range of groups seeking to support health and wellbeing in the community.

“We’re very fortunate to be able to support these great organisations and get more people more active through this grant. I’m looking forward to seeing the grant be put to use by some wonderful community organisations.”

Recipients of the Get Active community grant are PACT, Southern Wellbeing Trust, MINT Charitable Trust, Lakes District Multicultural Council, Wakatipu Senior Citizens Association, Kahu Youth Trust, Adventure Development Limited, Wakatipu Youth Trust, Community Networks Wānaka, Remarkable Cancer Gym Charitable Trust and Wakatipu Mini Muscles Charitable Trust.

The Get Active community grant will invite more applications again late next year. 

PHOTOS: Wānaka App