WAI Wānaka is one of the organisations to receive funding from the Otago Community Trust (OCT) in its latest funding round.

A $25,000 grant will help WAI Wānaka - which works to protect local waterways - expand its community education and freshwater protection work, which include school programmes on freshwater species and community monitoring of stream health.

“We are incredibly grateful to Otago Community Trust for supporting WAI Wānaka,” WAI Wānaka CEO Cat Dillon said.

“This funding grant is a vital boost for our community and the deep water alpine lakes of the Upper Clutha. 

“It will help raise awareness of the pressures these ecosystems face and equip people with the knowledge and tools they need to take meaningful action.”

Other local recipients in the latest funding round included Mint Charitable Trust, which received $11,000 to go towards its core programmes serving young people with intellectual disabilities in the Upper Clutha. 

Since starting in 2019, the Mint programmes have filled a significant gap, providing adapted gym equipment, yoga, dance classes, holiday programmes and sporting events.

In addition, Wānaka Riding for the Disabled received $3,418 for coach and volunteer training; Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust (which delivers the Wānaka Festival of Colour) received $5,000 for strategic planning; and the Wānaka Community Workshop Trust and Alpine Community Development Trust received $4,335 and $3,000 respectively.

The local grants were among a total of 57 grants totalling more than $650,000 granted in July.

“From youth development programmes to environmental restoration projects, these grants reflect the huge range of mahi happening throughout Otago,” OCT said.

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

PHOTO: Supplied