A Bay of Plenty council is calling for applications for an annual grant for groups providing a social service to residents in the Whakatane District.

Annual Grants Allocation Committee chair, Councillor Scott Jarrett, says the fund assists social service providers with costs such as building leases, training and development, salaries and wages, grounds maintenance, promotion, stationery and travel costs.

He says priority will be given to groups which have a high volunteer component to their activities.
'Any community group or voluntary organisation based in the Whakatāne District can apply for a grant from the fund.

'There is $50,000 available within the general fund, and $60,000 available for organisations providing water safety services, such as Coastguard and Surf Lifesaving New Zealand.”

He says this year the fund also includes multiple-year grants to provide funding security to organisations for a three-year period.

'This funding runs in conjunction with the Long Term Plan period for the Whakatāne District.”
Only charitable organisations providing a social service to the general public of the Whakatāne District are eligible for consideration.

'This excludes sporting and cultural organisations, because grant applications for those groups may be made annually to the SportNZ and Creative Communities New Zealand Funding Schemes.”

A sub-committee consisting of three councillors will meet in mid-July to consider all applications and allocate grants.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome within a week of the meeting.

Applications close at 5pm on Monday, July 9, and forms can be downloaded from the Whakatane District Council website.