Strengthening Communities Fund – New Zealand

Deadline: 12-Apr-24

The Christchurch City Council has announced the Strengthening Communities Fund to support community-focused organisations whose projects contribute to the strengthening of community wellbeing in the Christchurch City and Banks Peninsula area.

Priorities

• The following priorities are used in allocating funding:
  • Older adults
  • Children and youth
  • People with disabilities
  • Ethnic and culturally diverse groups
  • Disadvantage and/or social exclusion
  • The capacity of community organisations
  • Civic engagement.

What this fund covers?

• Applications can be for both operating and/or project costs.
  • Operating costs may include salaries, power, rent and administration costs.
  • Project costs may include the costs of community programmes, events, activities and equipment.
• Operational or project costs incurred in the provision and delivery of the initiative from1 September to 31 August of the following year.
• Small equipment purchases to enable your organisation to take advantage of efficiency gains. (Note: all equipment or capital purchases must be noted in a schedule of equipment/capital purchases for accountability purposes.)
• Costs that support the recognition, contribution and retention of volunteers.

What this fund will not cover?

• This fund will not cover
  • Debt servicing or re-financing costs.
  • Stock or capital market investment.
  • Gambling or prize money.
  • Payment of any legal expenditure, including costs or expenditures related to mediation disputes or ACC, Employment Tribunal, Small Claims Tribunal, professional or disciplinary body hearings.
  • Activities or initiatives where the primary purpose is to promote religious ministry, political objectives, commercial or profit-oriented interests.
  • Medical or healthcare costs – including treatment and insurance fees.

Outcomes

• The Council is not able to meet the needs and expectations of all not-for-profit and voluntary groups. Therefore, it focuses assistance on key activities and initiatives that contribute to and align with the community outcomes in the Long-Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) and with other Council strategies.
• The following funding outcomes are used to evaluate and assess applications:
  • Support, develop and promote the capacity and sustainability of community, recreation, sports, arts, heritage and environment groups
  • Increase participation in and awareness of community, recreation, sports, arts, heritage and environment groups, programmes and local events
  • Increase community engagement in local decision making
  • Enhance community and neighbourhood safety
  • Provide community based programmes which enhance basic life skills
  • Reduce or overcome barriers to participation
  • Foster collaborative responses to areas of need.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications are invited from eligible not-for-profit groups whose activities provide opportunities in the areas of community, social, recreation, sports, arts, environment or heritage to the wider community or to specifically defined communities of interest.
• The following criteria must be met by all applicants:
  • A community based not-for-profit community, recreation, sporting, arts, social service, environment or heritage organisation.
  • All groups applying for more than $2,000 must be incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 or the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 or be a legal entity that is registered for charitable purposes.
  • Groups that are not legal entities (informal groups) may apply for up to $2,000 on condition they have a bank account in the name of their group.
  • Be based in the Christchurch City Council area with funded programmes or services being provided primarily for Christchurch City Council residents.
  • Must have provided accountability reports for all previous Council funding and have no unresolved or outstanding accountability issues including outstanding debt to Council.
  • Must have had the funding application approved at a properly convened committee meeting and be able to provide this in writing if requested.
  • Must provide evidence of the need for the project.
  • Have appropriate financial management, accounting, monitoring and reporting practices.
  • Have sound governance and appropriate operational capability and capacity to deliver to the level as agreed.
  • Be able to commit to collaboration and partnering, where appropriate.
  • Groups receiving Council funding at a metropolitan level may only apply for local funding if the project is specifically local and no portion of it has been funded at the metropolitan level.

For more information, visit Christchurch City Council.