Helping You - COVID-19 Resources
6 Apr 2020
Useful Resources
Below are some useful resources / links to help our Not for Profit sector, we will continue to update as we gather information and useful links. Please share any helpful resources you have found with melanie@oct.org.nz and we can add it to this page, drop it into our eNewsletter and/ or share across social media platforms. We will get through this together Otago.
Government Resources
NZ Government - $27 million committed to support social sector services and community groups
The Government has announced a $27 million dollar package, to support social sector services and community groups to ensure they can continue to provide essential support to communities during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Up to $16 million will be to bolster existing essential social sector services delivered by NGOs and up to $6 million is funding for disability Community Participation providers.
Full Media Release can be viewed HERE
Community and Preparedness Grant Fund
As part of the Government’s response package to COVID-19, up to $4.8 million will also be to provide community grants or fund innovative community-led solutions to support local resilience via the Community and Preparedness Grant Fund. This new funding is being prioritised to support community efforts on the ground. This recognises there are community groups and individuals doing critical work in the fight against COVID-19. This funding allows them to continue to support their communities and help them through challenges they may face in the coming months.
Charities Services
Information is available on the Charities Services website relating to COVID-19 for registered charities.
The following areas are covered:
- how Charities Services will be working through lockdown period
- information on COVID-19 for registered charities
- information on how to support charities for the public
- other useful resources for charities
Visit their website for more information.
https://www.charities.govt.nz/news-and-events/blog/information-on-covid-19-for-registered-charities/
Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora / Ministry of Social Development
Financial support is available for individuals and employers and the government has earmarked $27 million to keep NGOs and community groups going. There is a lot of information to digest and make sense of, we would encourage you to talk to your professional service advisor (i.e., accountant) to help answer any questions you may have.
https://workandincome.govt.nz/
Common questions on support for employers during COVID-19
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/employer-questions-and-answers.html#null
Inland Revenue Department
Tax relief and income assistance is available to people affected by the downturn in business due to COVID-19.
https://www.ird.govt.nz/covid19
Support for Māori communities and businesses
The Government has developed a plan to support Māori communities and businesses in the face of COVID-19.
This includes a whole of government approach to providing health, social and economic support tailored to meet the specific needs of Māori.
This includes:
- a Whānau Māori Community and Mārae package reprioritising $10 million from the Māori Development vote to support community outreach
- Māori Health and Whānau Ora response with $30 million targeted directly to Māori Health services and an extra $15 million to Whānau Ora commissioning agencies
- Supporting Māori Businesses and engaging with Māori with $1 million of funding to enable a needs assessment for Māori businesses, and $470,000 to Te Arawhiti to engage and work with iwi on their COVID-19 pandemic response plans.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/supporting-m%C4%81ori-communities-and-businesses-through
Funding Resources
Strategic Grants
The Strategic Grants Team have a dedicated page that summarises alot of the COVID-19 Funds available to community groups, including our own Otago Community Trust COVID-19 Fund.
A number of these are regional specific funds, however some are new dedicated national funds that may be applicable for Otago based organisations. The webpage provides a good summary of Funder's, predominantly Gaming Trusts that have postponed and cancelled funding rounds also.
https://www.strategicgrants.co.nz/free-resources/covid-19-news
Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS)
The Community Organisation Grants Scheme or COGS provides grants to non-profit organisations delivering community-based social services that contribute to achieving locally-determined outcomes. This fund is now open in Otago.
Overall, organisations requesting COGS grants need to show how their community-based services or projects will contribute to:
- encouraging participation in communities
- promoting community leadership
- developing community capability
- promoting social, economic and cultural equity, or
- reducing the downstream social and economic costs to communities and government.
Each Local Distribution Committee (LDC) also develops community outcomes they see as having priority from discussions at annual public meetings where communities are able to discuss what local benefits or outcomes they want from the COGS investment in their communities.
https://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/ask-us/view/1365?t=160110_208265
LDC outcome priorities for Otago areas can be found below:
The closing date for applications is Wednesday May 20th.
https://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/community-organisations-grants-scheme/
Creative New Zealand
A multi-million-dollar Emergency Response Package has been established to support artists, arts practitioners, arts groups and arts organisations coping with the impact of COVID-19. Note that the Creative New Zealand overall Emergency Response Package offers support to individual artists, arts practitioners, arts groups and arts organisations, as well as their investment clients. Take a look at their website to review each opportunity to see where you fit.
The first phase of Creative New Zealand’s Emergency Response Package has two components Resilience Grants and Short-term Relief for Investment Clients:
Under the Resilience Grants, there are two funding opportunities:
Emergency Relief Grant
- This is a rolling grant designed to contribute to people’s loss of income between 1 March and 30 June due to Covid-19. This grant is a lump sum top-up of the WINZ Wage Subsidy to ensure artists and arts practitioners receive $25 per hour for their lost income, aligning to Creative New Zealand’s policy for paying artists and arts practitioners fairly.
- Eligibility criteria requires people to have gone to WINZ first; have “a track record of success” (the definition of this is outlined) and be able to show that their main source of income is derived from their arts practice.
- Results are given within 5 days
- The fund closes on June 18.
Full details on this grant can be found here: https://www.creativenz.govt.nz/find-funding/funds/emergency-relief-grant
Arts Continuity Grant
- This is also a rolling grant with weekly decisions and is for grants up to $50k.
- It’s for short-term arts projects, or a stage of an arts project, that can be delivered within a changed and evolving environment as a result of COVID-19. Projects can include the creation and/or presentation of new work. Projects that were submitted to the funding rounds that were suspended can be reframed and resubmitted.
- There is some eligibility criteria specific to this fund (i.e. excludes funding for international travel and physical gatherings). This fund will not cover any costs or losses incurred as a result of Covid-19
- This fund also closes on 18 June.
- Full details on this grant can be found here: https://www.creativenz.govt.nz/find-funding/funds/arts-continuity-grant-2020
Short-term Relief for Investment Clients for existing investment clients and on top of existing funding, with priority given to those materially negatively impacted by COVID-19, to help them stabilise their businesses and remain viable.
For more detailed information visit the Creative New Zealand website.
https://www.creativenz.govt.nz/news/covid-19-cnz-response
Health and Wellbeing
All Right?
At this time, it's more important than ever for us to be kind, keep in touch and band together. Here All Right? share some of the simple things we can do to look after ourselves and others, and to get through this, together
Not All Right?
We all need a bit of support from time-to-time, and if you or someone you know is struggling, there is free help available. Free call or text 1737 any time, 24 hours a day. You can also call Lifeline on 0800 543354 or text HELP to 4357.
ProtectOurWhakapapa
ProtectOurWhakapapa website has some great resources that have been specifically developed for Māori communities. Resources are in both Te Reo and English, doing their best to bring together simple, clear, trustworthy information that can help education everyone about the COVID-19 pandemic.
The website also has links to official, up-to-date information and a wide array of other resources, including a collection of apps, resources, and services that may help whānau with the different challenges faced during the lockdown.
https://protectourwhakapapa.webflow.io/
Mental Health New Zealand
COVID-19 is changing our daily lives. It’s important to look after our wellbeing and the wellbeing of our whānau and community as we get through this – together. The number one message Mental Health NZ want New Zealanders to hear is this: "we will get through this if we work together". Connecting with people who make you feel safe and loved is the most important thing you can do to look after your mental health and the mental health of people around you.
You can free call or text 1737 at any time to speak with a trained counsellor – it’s free and confidential.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/
New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience
NZIWR have great resources that will support you and those you care for during this period. They will also post regular support information on their website: nziwr.co.nz
Click here to download our brief guide for coping in the days ahead based on the best of science and their expert experiences.
nziwr.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NZIWR_Real-time_Resilience_Coping_with_Coronavirus.pdf
Education Resources
Ministry of Education - Learning from home
This website contains advice and resources for parents and whānau, teachers and leaders spanning early learning through to senior secondary to support learning at home. The resources are sorted in age groups and year levels to help you find things that you can use or adapt for your children’s learning.
The Ministry of Education team will be adding more resources in the coming days and weeks, so it is well worth book marking it and reviewing regularly.
https://learningfromhome.govt.nz/
Sparklers At Home
Sparklers is a wellbeing toolkit for kiwi kids. Set up by the All Right? campaign, it offers teachers and whānau a range of fun activities to help tamariki regulate and manage their own emotions.