Waitomo District Council has realigned the way it will administer funding grants to the community, following a review of its Community and Partnerships Fund Policy.

On 1 July this year, the updated policy will come into effect, which incorporates all community funding options provided by WDC as well as those administered on behalf of external organisations.

Changes to the policy include the removal of the Single-Year Community Assistance Grant, Community Events Fund and Hall Hire Subsidy, which have all been undersubscribed in recent years.

This means the policy will now mainly focus on the Multi-Year Community Partnership Grant, which covers a three-year period with grants paid annually.

WDC will continue to support the 12 community halls within the Waitomo District by way of an annual grant, with funding increased from $1000 to $1500 each year.

General Manager Community Services Helen Beever says the new focus of the policy allows Council to provide for fair and equitable distribution of funding to assist organisations delivering services that benefit communities within the Waitomo District.

“It will still provide for the same outcomes, which is to contribute to the social and cultural well-being of the community,” she says.

The policy allows Council to clearly document the way in which it delivers funding assistance to the community and identifies all the areas of funding support that Council provides to the community.

The Multi-Year Community Partnership Grant will open on 1 July, and will be awarded through a contestable process.

“This will enable Elected Members to compare the relative merits of the funding applications they receive and to allocate grants as fairly as possible,” says Helen.

Waitomo District Council will continue to administer special grants on behalf of external organisations including the Creative Communities Scheme, Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund and the DC Tynan Fund.