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Trust kicks of 2017 funding - approving over $588,000 in community donations 1 Mar 2017

In its first board meeting for 2017 the Otago Community Trust has approved over $588,000 in community donations to 50 community groups across Otago. The largest donation approved in February was $95,000 to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunedin to assist with the roofing restoration of Dunedin’s Dominican Priory. Otago Community Trust, chief executive Barbara Bridger said the Trust was pleased to provide support to the restoration of this category one Heritage New Zealand building.
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Recreational Turf Trust granted $95k 8 Nov 2016

Oamaru’s North Otago Recreational Turf Trust was the major beneficiary of the Otago Community Trust’s October funding round. The Otago Community Trust approved a $95,000 donation to the Trust which will assist with the cost of replacing the recreational hockey turf at Centennial Park. North Otago Recreational Turf Trust chairman Ray Simpson explains that the current water based turf was originally laid in 1999 and while it has been maintained to a high standard, it is now impractical and uneconomic to continue repairing it. “The expected life span of a turf is typically 10 years and we have had 17 years out of it” Mr Simpson said.
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Another healthy contribution to EECA’s Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes Programme for Otago 5 Nov 2016

The Otago Community Trust is pleased to announce that it has committed over $700,000 towards insulating more low income homes across the Otago region for the year to 30th July 2017 through the EECA’s Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes Rental programme. 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. 
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Regional Sport Boosted by $935,500 5 Jul 2016

The Otago Community Trust is pleased to announce it has distributed $935,500 to 35 Otago sport development programmes from its Regional Sports funding round in June. Otago Community Trust Chief Executive Barbara Bridger explains that the Trust has one round of funding for Regional Sports each year. “The regional sports funding is pivotal to the sustainability of many of our regional sporting bodies. These regional sporting bodies are the umbrella groups that support hundreds of community clubs and local sporting groups across Otago with development programmes” she said.
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Trust announces $300,000 to assist with the fit out of the Wanaka Recreation Centre 2 Jun 2016

The newly named Wanaka Recreation Centre has been given a $300,000 boost to assist with its fit out, in particular the purchase of sporting equipment and the Rebound Ace flooring after securing funding from the Otago Community Trust. The donation was approved at the Trust’s recent board meeting, where trustees granted a number of sizable donations across the region, including the announcement of a $500,000 boost to the Otago Museum.
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Otago Museum Discovery World II a step closer 27 May 2016

The Otago Museum has received a funding boost of $500,000 in the Otago Community Trust’s latest donations round. The donation will assist with the Discovery World Stage Two project (Discovery World II) and the creation of the Otago Museum science engagement centre. The donation will specifically contribute towards the cost of the interactive displays, which need to be ordered over the coming months to ensure they will be available for the planned opening in 2017.
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Central Otago multi-million dollar cycle trail project gets financial backing 15 May 2016

A $26.3 million project to connect Central Otago's trail network and create 500 kilometres of continuous trail network will be a "game changer" for the region. Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key announced at a function in Bannockburn on Sunday the Government would commit around $13 million towards the project, with the Central Lakes Trust contributing $11.15m and the Otago Community Trust contributing $2m.