Recent grants from the Otago Community Trust (OCT) will support a local cross-country skiing event, a football club and snowsports organisation, among others.

Five organisations received support in the OCT’s May and June latest funding rounds, with sports organisations making up the majority of recipients.

A $40,000 grant to Snow Sports NZ will help the organisation continue its work to increase youth participation in snow sports and enable more kids and people with disabilities to get involved with competitive snow sports. 

“Our enduring partnership with Otago Community Trust remains an essential cornerstone of the snow sports competitive pathway in New Zealand,” Snow Sports NZ CEO Nic Cavanagh told the Wānaka App.

He said the funding will be applied towards its competitive pathway, helping with the costs associated with retaining and training staff, officials, volunteers and judges. 

Nearly all of a $6,500 grant to the fast-growing Wānaka Associated Football Club (AFC) will be spent on gear and equipment, Wānaka AFC club manager Simone Sippola said.

The club now has nearly 500 junior players and the grant will provide new goals and balls for them, Simone said.

“We are spread across multiple training and playing locations because we're so big now, so we need resources like goals and balls across both.”

A $5,000 grant for Aspiring Gymsports will help with the costs of installing heating at its premises within Paetara Aspiring Central.

Through sponsorships and grants from several organisations, including the OCT, it has now raised enough to cover the $55,000+ cost of heating, Rae said.

Meanwhile a $6,000 grant will help make the Snow Farm’s annual ‘Merino Muster’ event possible this year.

The long-running, family friendly event is taking place on August 31 and it includes five races: The prestigious 42km Merino Muster, 21km Snow Rake, 14km Double Fleece, the 7km Straggle Muster, and the 1km Mini Muster for the under 10s.

The last of the five OCT grants from May and June will go to Wānaka SAR, with $11,436 granted to support the volunteer-run organisation’s search and rescue services in the Wānaka area.

The OCT is a philanthropic organisation which makes grants to organisations, events and initiatives which are of benefit to the Otago community.

It is committed to supporting diverse sporting activities across the region, a statement from the trust said.

PHOTO: Garrick Cameron