Self help will improve funding chances

The new Community Fund set up this year should not be considered as a first port-of-call for community organisations seeking financial assistance, Eastern Community Board Chairman Paul Gorringe said today.

The fund is allocated by Community Boards and provides assistance to groups seeking funding support for projects with clear community benefits in the heritage, sport, and environmental fields and which are likely to improve community amenities and services.

"To ensure as many organisation or groups as possible are able to benefit from the fund, the boards want to encourage possible applicants to explore alternate funding sources such as gaming and charitable trusts before seeking our assistance.

"This will not only make the funds available go further, but will also improve the odds on receiving assistance.

"The funds are to provide assistance for projects which show a strong level of wider community benefit. However priority will also be given to applications which demonstrate elements of self-help, where we are able to match funding from external sources and where seed funding will enhance the organisations opportunity to raise money from other sources," he said.

"Most organisations including event organisers know a year in advance what their requirements are likely to be which gives plenty of time to test alternate funding sources. The council has a list of funding agencies and trusts which is made available to community groups on request," he said.

This year $135,296 has been allocated to the Eastern Community Board for distribution, $95,129 to the Northern Community Board and $69,284 to the Western Community Board.

Because the fund is distributed at normal monthly meetings throughout the year, the tendency will be for boards to disburse about 10% of available funds at each meeting, he said.