Local organisations can now apply for funding from a new $10M suite of funds designed to support young people across Otago.

Distributed over the next five years, the Otago Community Trust’s (OCT) new funds will go to organisations and initiatives that support young people, particularly those addressing disadvantage, discrimination and exclusion.

The funding is split across three funds and the first of the three, the Impact for Tamariki & Rangatahi Fund, will open for applications at the start of April.

“This is an exciting move for the trust,” OCT chair Diccon Sim said. “We know that by investing in our tamariki and rangatahi now, we will see a significant impact on all our futures.”

Diccon said the Impact for Tamariki & Rangatahi Fund, worth $2M, is intended to provide a small number of high investment grants with a focus on supporting projects that have the potential to be game changing and deliver long term intergenerational change.

The second new fund, the Tamariki & Rangatahi Sector Capability Fund, which will open in July, will focus on supporting capacity building among those working with tamariki and rangatahi. 

Grants will be up to $10,000, with larger amounts able to be considered for projects with significant potential for impact or which encourage collaboration between multiple organisations, he said.

More details about the third fund, the Rangatahi-Led Fund, will be made available in coming months.

The trust has recently created a new Tamariki and Rangatahi Strategy following research commissioned in 2019 to better understand the youth sector in the Otago region.

“We gained valuable insights into how we may fund change and the potential of our youth into the future,” OCT CEO Barbara Bridger said.

Local communities groups and stakeholders are welcome to contact the OCT with any questions they may have, Barbara said.

OCT community engagement advisor Liz Harburg (Phone: 0800 101240; Email: [email protected]) is available to answer questions about the funds.

Find more information about the new funds here.

Barbara reiterated that beyond the new suite of funds focused on the region’s children and young people, the OCT will continue to serve the communities of Otago and remain available to support a diverse array of charitable initiatives.

“We can’t stress this enough. We will continue to support the grass roots organisations that contribute to the fabric of our community.”

PHOTO: Supplied