Source: Auckland Council
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board supports community initiatives in a variety of different ways.
One of the most important is through the provision of funding via grants, which allows for groups to apply for quick round grants of as little as $500, larger-scale financial assistance of up to $10,000 and Strategic Partnership Grants (which includes financial and capacity-building support).
“We have found that the grants system works really well for our communities,” explains Maria Meredith, Chair of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board.
“It ensures that those smaller requests are not overshadowed by the bigger ones, that there is a good spread of financial assistance across the local board area. There is however one major downside to the process and that is the number of applications that are declined because they don’t clearly outline what their funding request is for, what the benefits are for the community or provide a clear budget to support the application.”
“To help more groups meet the criteria for assessment, the local board allocated budget towards building community knowledge around grant seeking and grant writing application skills.”
Between August and October of this year, there will be three workshops and one drop-in session aimed at better equipping local groups/individuals/schools and non-for-profits with the skills and increased confidence to write strong grant proposals, as well as increasing awareness of the various sources of funding.
“Some of the most popular topics in these workshops are preparing a budget for a grant application, showing the need they are meeting and how this will help the community” explains Carole Blacklock from the Auckland Council Community Innovation team. Through these workshops, groups will also be able to upskill their knowledge on sustainable funding options and speak with Specialist Grants Advisors from Auckland Council and the Department of Internal Affairs.
If your project, event or idea aligns with the local board priorities – which are set in the Local Board Plan through consultation with the community – then you may be eligible for up to $10,000.
“Even if you only need $500, whatever it might be that is the difference between being able to provide a benefit for the community or not, then you should consider applying for a Local Board Grant, they are open to everyone,” says Meredith.
These sessions are ideal for managers, trustees and fundraisers from community groups, social enterprises and charities working or based in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board area (Onehunga, One Tree Hill, Royal Oak, Oranga, Mt Wellington, Penrose, Te Pāpapa, Panmure, Glen Innes, Riverside, Pt England, Wai-o-Taiki) who want to learn practical strategies to increase funding success.
For more information on the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Grant Workshops and Drop-in Sessions contact Carole Blacklock on 301 0101 or to register please send your name, workshop you want to attend, organisation name and address to communityempowerment@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Upcoming workshops
- Funding Workshop: 4 August, 10-12.30pm, Oranga Community Centre
- Funding Workshop: 11 August, 10-12.30pm, Panmure Hall
- Social Enterprise Workshop: 15 September, 9.30-12.30pm, Onehunga Community Centre
- Drop-in Funding Advice Session: 20 October, 10–2pm
