 From the CE
The Trust team was pleased to hold its Annual Public Meeting on the 23rd of August at the Otago Museum. At this meeting the Trust reported on the operations and financial results for the year ended 31st March 2016. It was pleasing to report that in the 12 months the Trust approved donations totalling $6.2m an increase of 44% from our last financial year, with the Trust’s Investment Portfolio returning 3.3% or $7.4m and ending the year at $265m. Our significant reserves should permit us to weather the current volatile economic environment and we are pleased to report that we are continuing to provide a steady stream of Donations to community groups.
Several times during the year the Trust arranges for Trustees and staff to visit projects and organisations that the Trust has either funded or will potentially be coming to the Trust for assistance. This is a great way for Trustees and staff to see first-hand the difference our funding is making to local communities. The Trust team thoroughly enjoy these outings and learning more about the community projects happening across Otago. The Trust team will be in Oamaru on the 25th and 26th of October and we are looking forward to visiting a number of projects in Oamaru, Moeraki, Waikouaiti and Karitane meeting with community groups.
The iconic Alexandra Blossom Festival celebrated 60 years in September. The festival is a wonderful example of passionate community spirit and it would not be possible without the community volunteers that make it happen each year. The 60th celebration did not disappoint with a colourful line up of big rigs, classic cars and colourful floats. The Otago Community Trust was once again delighted to support this event and we congratulate the Alexandra Blossom Festival Committee on a superb day.
I trust you enjoy reading this edition newsletter and hearing about some of the things we have been involved with in recent months. Should you have any questions regarding funding please feel free to contact me or any member of the Trust team, we are always happy to help.
Barbara Bridger, CE
|
|
Learning and Development
Below is a snapshot of a number of learning and development programmes, new blogs and funds that maybe of interest.
|
|
 Subsidised Home Insulation Schemes
The Otago Community Trust recognises the value of insulation and the noticeable difference it makes to the health of people as well as improving the warmth, comfort and energy efficiency of homes. We are pleased to report that the Trust has committed over $700,000 towards insulating more low income homes across the Otago region for the year to 30th July 2017. Working with providers Smart Energy Solutions and Technobond, this funding will allow almost 1000 more low income homes to become warmer, healthier and more efficient. A number of changes have been made to the Government’s Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes Insulation programme. If you wish to learn more about the Subsidised Home Insulation Schemes offered in Otago you can contact Warm Homes, Project Manager, Jordana Whyte: email: jordana@cosyhomes.org.nz, phone: 021 999 395. Jordana will also be available at the Great Kiwi Home & Living Show on 5th – 6th November at Forsyth Barr stadium. Alternatively you can go to the EECA Energywise website which outlines the criteria for insulation funding - Click Here
|
|
 Not for Profit Financial Reporting Resources - Free Webinar & Not for Profit Financial Reporting Guide
Did you know that the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand have recently released two resources dedicated to help New Zealand Not-for-Profit entities comply with their financial reporting requirements? The resources include a free webinar on the new Charity Financial Reporting standards (upon registration) and a downloadable guide for NFP financial reporting in New Zealand. We thought these would be useful resources for the many different entities we fund. Click Here. |
|
 Funding Application Tips
The Otago Community Trust was pleased to attend the recent Art's Hui in the Dunedin Public Art Gallery in August. A focus of the Art's Hui was to provide a snapshot of funding opportunities for Dunedin’s artistic community. The ‘Joy & Jeopardy’ workshop enabled funders and artists seeking funding to connect. Our Donations Manager, Carol Melville presented at the workshop and offered the following advice to those seeking funding. The Otago Community Trust is not a principal funder of projects. It expects that the applicant will raise a significant proportion of the project cost elsewhere. Our five key tips are the following:
1. Attention to Detail
2. Check the Closing Date
3. Check the Fund Criteria
4. Be Project Specific. Be Realistic, Be Smart
5. For events we ask that you submit your application to us at least 3 months prior to commencement or opening.
If you are unsure, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to help.
|
|
Making a Difference - Our Otago Success Stories
Below are a handful of projects that the Otago Community Trust has recently supported.
|
|
|
 Naseby Development Charitable Trust - New Signs
The Naseby Development Charitable Trust (NDCT) was formed in March 2012 to enable the community to construct a family friendly recreation park with mountain biking and walking tracks. Nestled at the foot of the Ida Mountain Range, Naseby is a wonderful place to go when you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. One of the star attractions for many is the wide variety of tracks accessible within the forest area surrounding Naseby, which will soon have new signs for the Summer. To read full story click here
|
|
|
 Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust: Diamond Lake
The Otago Community Trust was pleased to assist the Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust with the cost of the purchase, planting & maintenance of 1200 native plants at Diamond Lake Conservation Area near Wanaka in July 2015. We were delighted to received this great video of the Diamond Lake Native Habitat Restoration project with their recent Accountability report. Produced by Flashworks Media, the video beautifully explains the great benefits of the restoration project. You can view the full story and the video on our website here.
|
|
|
 Arts Festival Dunedin 2016 - Well Done
The whirlwind 10 days of Arts Festival Dunedin finished on the 9th of October. Arts Festival Dunedin is a bi-annual arts festival which offers an exceptional array of unique, delightful and simply exquisite performances. The Otago Festival of the Arts Trust was established in 1999 and since the inaugural Festival in 2000 the Otago Community Trust has been a major funder. This year's programme was outstanding, run at a slightly later time to encompass the school holidays; the diverse line-up of gigs included plenty of family entertainment. We would like to congratulate Director Nicholas McBryde and all his team on an outstanding festival. The next feast of extraordinary experiences is scheduled for spring 2018 and we look forward to what will be on offer.
|
|
Making a Difference - Our Otago Events
The Otago Community Trust supports a vast array of community events across Otago each year. Below are some profiles of just a few of the events that the Otago Community Trust has supported or will be supporting over the coming months.
|
|
 World Sight Day
Congratulations to the Visual Impairment Charitable Trust Aotearoa on running a fantastic line up of events for World Sight Day on the 13th of October. The Otago Community Trust was pleased to provide a $5,000 donation to support with the cost of celebrating World Sight Day.
The lower Octagon in Dunedin was a buzz with a wide range of activities that tested and drew awareness to the challenges that the visually impaired contend with daily. One of the many features of the day was a wonderful performance by the ‘Ageing Gracefully Dance Project’, who danced gracefully to Louis Armstrong’s My Walking Stick with Dunedin-developed Victa Viz sticks in-hand. The Otago Community Trust had also provided a donation back in 2013 to the then newly formed Trust for a pilot road safety programme. The "LoViz/HiViz" project included the production of the adjustable high-visibility Victa Viz sticks and it was great to see how from an initial pilot project the sticks are now widely used. If you missed the action on World Sight day, click here to view a short video of what happened on the day. |
|
 Connecting Coaches Conference
Connecting Coaches is an annual conference seeking to lift the capability of coaching right across New Zealand’s sport system. The conference alternates between the South Island (hosted by Otago Academy of Sport) and the North Island (hosted by Sport New Zealand), and shares a common approach to creating a deeper learning environment for coaches that attend. The next Connecting Coaches conference – Striving for Excellence will be held in Dunedin on November 25 and 26, 2016
The Otago Community Trust is offering 25 Scholarships to assist rural Otago coaches attend the 2016 Connecting Coaches Conference in Dunedin. More information on the scholarships can be found on the Otago Community Trust website here
|
|
 Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations
Oamaru has become increasingly famous for its Victorian Heritage Celebrations, with its annual festival attracting visitors from across New Zealand and overseas. This year’s Victorian Heritage Celebrations are themed on ”Medicine in the Victorian Era”. With the fine work of organisers there will be an array of events which will inspire some great costume ideas to don while you enjoy the celebration of our heritage.
The Otago Community Trust is a proud supporter of the Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations. The Trust has funded this event for a number of years and has continued to do so in 2016. We are delighted to see its popularity grow. We congratulate the Victorian Heritage Celebration Committee on the great work they do and all the volunteers that give up their time to make this Otago event possible. The dates of the celebration and further information on the pre-celebration events can be found here.
|
|
Making a Difference - Our Donation Rounds
We would like to remind all Otago community groups that no matter what size donation you are seeking (big or small), the team at the Otago Community Trust are always happy to help. A full summary of recent donation recipients can always be found on the Otago Community Trust website.
Our August Media Release - Funding support for ‘A Pest Free Peninsula by 2050’
Our September Media Release - $55,000 for Oamaru’s Cycle Learning Park
|
|
Looking Forward - Save the Dates
Below are some key dates to save in your calender's over the next two months
|
|
 Trust Donation Rounds - November, December, January
The Otago Community Trust wishes to remind all applicants that the Trust does not meet to approve donations in December or January. The Trust will hold its November Board Meeting on 29th of November, after which the next time the Board will meet will be the 21st of February 2017.
Our Donations team are currently processing applications for the November Board meeting. If you have a community project and or event to be held in December or January and have not yet submitted an application, please contact the Trust to discuss approval timing. You can always reach the Otago Community Trust on 0800 10 12 40 or Email: info@oct.org.nz. The Trust usually takes at least two months to process an application and may not consider applications that need to be confirmed before this time. The indicative timetable for the first half of 2017 is outlined below.
|
|
 Otago Regional Workshop - Guide to Safe and Effective Practice in Youth Mentoring Aotearoa NZ
Thanks to funding support from The Tindall Foundation, the NZ Youth Mentoring Network is pleased to be running a series of regional workshops on the recently published 2nd edition of the Guide to Safe and Effective Practice in Youth Mentoring Aotearoa NZ. The workshops are positioned toward youth workers, educators, mentors, mentor programme providers, central and local government agency staff and community workers - people working with young people, helping them achieve positive outcomes and to reach their potential. The Otago workshop is to be held on the 9th of November at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 30 The Octagon, Dunedin. You can learn more about the workshop here |
|
Up and Coming Events
Below are a handful of up and coming events that the Trust is proud be supporting or has been invited too and a result of past funding support.
- A20 Annual Partners Forum / Summit 2016 - from Thursday 27th to Friday 28th October
- Cromwell Bike Park - Official Grand Opening - Saturday 29th October
- Roslyn Kindergarten – Celebrating 60 years of operation - Sunday 30th October
- The Dunedin Light Party - Monday 31st October
- Otago Embroiderers’ Guild Biennial Exhibition from Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th November 2016
- Opera Otago 'A Christmas Carol' from 26 November at 19:30 - 4 December at 14:00, Mayfair Theatre
|
|
|
|
