Southland District Council

funding available from Southland District Council

Southland District Council distributes funds to groups and individuals in Southland for purposes and projects that will benefit its residents. The Community Development team at Venture Southland can assist with applying for these funds.

Community Initiatives Fund

The Community Initiatives Fund replaces the previous Amenity and Community Development Funds. The purpose of the Community Initiatives fund is to support the development of community facilities and amenities, sport and recreational opportunities, and community programmes, activities or events.

There are two funding rounds each year. Applications close 31 March and 30 September.

For more

For more information please contact Bronwyn Affleck (03) 2111 426 or email bronwyn@venturesouthland.co.nz
The application form is available from all Southland District Council Offices or it can be downloaded here:

Community Initiatives Fund

Northern Southland Development Fund

The Northern Southland Development Fund is available for the development of initiatives which benefit the residents of the Northern Southland Development Fund Area (designated geographic area represented by the Southland District Council Five Rivers Ward and the Dipton Community Levy area) examples being:

community facilities, reserves, playgrounds, utilities and other community amenities
community programmes, activities, events and recreational opportunities
community initiatives aimed at developing the social, cultural, environmental, health, safety and general wellbeing of the community
the development of amenities which may provide a long term economic benefit for the community.

There are two funding rounds each year. Applications close 31 March and 30 September.
For more information please contact Bronwyn Affleck (03) 2111 426 or email bronwyn@venturesouthland.co.nz
The application form is available from Southland District Council Office in Lumsden or it can be downloaded here:

Northern Southland Development Fund Application Form

Ohai Railway Fund (Individuals)

The purpose of the fund is to provide grants and loans for the benefit of the 'residents' of the former Ohai Railway Board Area, a resident being a person or a descendant of a person whose name appeared on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll in any year from 1960 to 1999 and whose address at the time was within the area of the former Board.

Applications close last Friday in March and September each year.

For forms and more information please the Southland District Council Otautau Office 0800 732 732.

Ohai Railway Fund (Organisations)

The purpose of the fund is to provide grants and loans for the benefit of the 'residents' of the former Ohai Railway Board Area as defined above.
The fund is available for:

the provision of bursaries for post-secondary school study or adult education
to facilitate employment opportunities
the development of community facilities, reserves and resources
recreational and leadership opportunities
community programmes, activities, events and charitable purposes
operating costs can be considered where they are incorporated into a specific project
assistance may also be provided to individuals or groups taking part in events which reflect credit or provide benefit to the community
consideration may be given to projects aimed at providing public utilities
assistance for other initiatives outside the above broad categories may be provided at the discretion of the Committee
transport allowance may be considered for specific projects, but does not allow for transport to and from work or study.

Applications close last Friday in March and September each year.

For forms and more information please the Southland District Council Otautau Office 0800 732 732.

SPARC Rural Travel

The Rural Travel Fund is designed to assist with transport expenses associated with participating in regular local competitions. Sports clubs and school based club with young people aged between 5-19 years are eligible to apply.

Applications for assistance to attend regional or national events are not eligible. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

There are two funding rounds each year. Funds close 31 March and 30 September.
For more information please contact Bronwyn Affleck (03) 2111 426 or email bronwyn@venturesouthland.co.nz
The application form is available from all Southland District Council Offices or it can be downloaded here:

Sparc Rural Travel Fund Application Form

Creative Communities NZ Scheme

The purpose of the Creative Communities Scheme is to increase participation in the arts at the local level, and to increase the range and diversity of arts available to communities through the provision of grant subsidies.
Both groups and individuals involved with arts/culture may apply for a grant subsidy for projects that benefit local communities in the Southland District.

Types of activities that are eligible for funding include:

cultural events, such as festivals
costs associated with artist-in-residence schemes
arts-related promotional activities
materials for an arts event or activity
seminars, workshops for local artists and arts groups
salary costs for one-off, short term projects
equipment, provided it is related to an arts activity and will be owned by a legally constituted group
dance that has an arts/culture focus
school-based projects outside normal curriculum activities that provide opportunities for increased community participation in or access to arts/culture.

Creative Communities Application Form