Applications for Horizons community grants closing soon

Horizons Regional Council encourages community groups with eligible projects to apply for grants before the funding round closes on Friday, 5 May 2023.
 

Horizons holds funding rounds for the Kanorau Koiora Taketake – Indigenous Biodiversity Community Grant and the Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi – Community Climate Response Fund each year.
 
These grants are open to community groups with projects seeking to reconnect with and enhance indigenous biodiversity or which address climate change issues in the region.
 
Horizons councillor Fiona Gordon, who sits on the committee which awards the grants, says the funding is a great opportunity for community groups.
 
“So many wonderfully innovative, community-led projects come to fruition with the support of these community grants year after year, so we encourage groups to apply before the funding round closes on 5 May.
 
“Whether you have applied before or have a project in its infancy needing a kickstart, we have funding available. If you’re not sure whether your project fits the criteria for a grant, get in touch with our team to see if we can help.
 
“It is truly inspiring to see what our communities can achieve when they come together with an idea - that’s what these grants are here for,” says Cr Gordon.
 
Waitahora Landcare Trust are a group of landowners who wish to control the spread of the invasive Old Man’s Beard in particularly vulnerable areas in their community: along the Mangatoro river and surrounding native bush.
 
In 2022, the group was awarded $18,900 from the Kanorau Koiora Taketake to fund their efforts, including paying for contractors to target problem areas and supplies to continue control efforts themselves in the future.
 
For 2023, the funding pool available for Kanorau Koiora Taketake is $277,000. 
 
In February this year a climate camp for seventeen rangatahi was held, supported by $11,700 of funding from the Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi. Funds paid for educators to speak with rangatahi as well as providing fresh healthy kai for the week. 
 
The camp project focused on providing rangatahi with skills and knowledge of regenerative kai systems, mātauranga Māori, and holistic wellbeing. Teens left the week-long camp with a stronger sense of connection to self and their whanau and their natural environment.
 
For 2023, the funding pool available for the Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi – Community Climate Response Fund is $78,250.
 
Eligible projects must be not-for-profit, be taking place within the Horizons Region, and preferably group members should also reside within the region. Preference is given to projects which do not apply for a large portion of the total funding pool.
 
Applications for both grants close Friday 5 May, 1pm. No late applications will be accepted.
 
To read about other projects funded by our community grants, visit our Facebook or other social media pages.
 
To view the full eligibility criteria and find application forms, visit our website at https://www.horizons.govt.nz/grants-and-sponsorship
 
Image: Rangatahi climate camp held earlier this year.