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Grant funding is in high demand – last month’s Hibiscus & Bays Local Board grants round for community organisations was oversubscribed by almost four times the amount available, which was $144,500 plus a further $10,000 for organisations that work across more than one local board area.
The grant funding was allocated at the local board’s October 21 meeting.
Locally, the biggest grant went to fledgling business association Business Whangaparāoa, which received $10,000 towards operational costs and the cost of delivering community events.
Other major recipients were Red Beach Surf Lifesaving Club ($6000 for caps and rescue tubes), Ōrewa’s Centrestage Theatre ($5000 towards stage lighting), Whangaparāoa Community Patrol ($4000 for navigation system, uniforms and safety equipment), the Northern School of Performing Arts in Whangaparāoa ($4000 for venue and equipment hire) and Special Olympics Hibiscus Coast ($5700 towards uniforms and sports equipment).
Among the organisations that missed out was Netball North Harbour, which was declined a grant towards repairing and upgrading lighting on the Hibiscus Coast Netball courts in Edith Hopper Park, Manly. It requested $10,000. Since that grant application was made, during lockdown, Auckland Council removed two of the courts’ four lighting poles, for safety reasons after a storm (HM September 10 online only edition). Funding needs to be found for replacement lights, as otherwise the organisation’s ability to deliver netball at Edith Hopper Park next season could be impacted.
Best vehicle yet for Love Soup
A major grant from Lotteries has made it possible for Love Soup Hibiscus Coast to keep its food rescue service on the road. The food rescue charity received $36,000, which will allow them to buy a vehicle capable of carrying large amounts of food. Julie King of Love Soup says the organisation currently has nine vehicles delivering food locally, as well as to the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Most are valued at around $5000 or less. “During lockdown, our truck carrying around 100 food parcels broke down on the motorway,” she says. “The grant came at just the right time!” Pictured left, Love Soup’s current fleet includes this van
