Applications are open for the Seagull Centre’s annual community grants.
The Seagull Centre Charitable Trust has up to $40,000 available this year for community projects.
Successful projects will do one of the following: create opportunities for locals to engage in local environmental issues; develop community resilience through sustainable living practices, food security and education, practice kaitiakitanga (environmental guardianship); or focus on the “rethink, refuse, reduce, repair, reuse, recycle” cycle.
In addition, projects must incorporate at least one of the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals, which include things like clean water and sanitation; sustainable communities; and the responsible and sustainable consumption of products.
Trust chair Ian Coatsworth said he was particularly interested in projects aimed at children.
“One of my particular and other trustees’ interests is that we make money available for younger people to try and get them interested in the environment,” he said.
“[We want to] either find younger people that want to get some plans together around our objectives there, or to get an interest in schools.”
Half of the available funds will go towards multiple smaller projects, with the other $20,000 being split among larger projects.
“This year what we’ve decided is there are a few projects that are probably deserving of more money… [we will] analyse the requests and see if there are some that do need more and it would make rolling their projects out so much easier.”
Applicants have until August 29 to apply through the Seagull Centre’s website.
“Don’t hold back. It’s a very quick application process – just get on to us and tell us what you’re doing and we’ll see if it fits.”
The centre is also looking for new trustees, Ian said, and he is eager to hear from anyone with an interest in business management or sustainability.
DETAILS: Visit www.seagullcentre.co.nz/community-grants to apply for a grant, or contact Ian Coatsworth on 027 274 9956 to find out more about the trust.
