Increased investment in Southern Lakes community mental wellbeing
More than $50,000 will go towards improving people’s mental wellbeing across the Southern Lakes region in the next few months through Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group’s Connecting Communities fund.
The fund supports community-led not-for-profit activities and events across Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell, and Te Anau/Fiordland that encourage social connection and promote the Five Ways to Wellbeing and Te Whare Tapa Wha.
The 54 groups funded in Round Two included the Happiness House Caring for the Carers programme, Turn the Corner mental health construction industry group, MINT Trust Wānaka school holiday workshop for people with physical and intellectual disabilities, St John weekend drives for older people, Whakatipu Youth Trust upcycling fashion/items sessions, St Joseph’s Primary School BRAVE foundation lifeskills learning programme, community yoga in Hawea, Te Anau outdoor playgroups and garden mosaic workshops, various Matariki community/cultural celebrations, migrant community events, and the Baking It Better Project supporting hospice residents, people fleeing domestic violence, refugees, support groups and others. A full list of recipients and initiatives is attached.
Adell Cox, Chair of the Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group, said the huge response from groups across the region and diversity of innovative ideas to improve mental wellbeing was “truly inspirational”.
“The Connecting Communities fund is really important because it gives us the opportunity to hear directly from our communities on a regular basis about what they want and need to improve their wellbeing.
“Applications nearly doubled from Round 1 and they reflect how tough it is out there at the moment so we’ve done our best to support as many initiatives as we can to help people stay well.”
Charlotte Jackson, from the MINT Trust, says they are using the funding to run an ‘I Can’ workshop during their school holiday performing arts programme for people with intellectual disabilities.
“GIANT LEAPS are the very best industry professionals and their ‘I Can, Speech and Drama Academy’ helps to build communication skills, confidence and self-esteem for those with intellectual disabilities. With many of our group experiencing isolation and disengagement from the community during COVID we thought it would be a great opportunity to host this in Wanaka. We are going to hold a primary school and secondary/adult workshop during our April holiday programme to support this awesome group of people get on the stage and shine.”
Joanne Conroy, Chair of the St John Wakatipu Area Committee, says their funding will be used to help grow a new weekend drives initiative to help address isolation and loneliness for older people.
“We became aware of this need through conversations with the people who use our Monday to Friday Health Shuttle Service from Queenstown to Kew Hospital. We wanted to do something to improve their sense of wellbeing and belonging by helping them to connect, form friendships and share stories.
“Our volunteers are taking groups for weekend drives and morning teas, listening to where would be most meaningful for them to go. It’s a great way of hearing about their amazing experiences and giving them the chance to explore the area. The majority of people who have come with us so far are losing their sight, are mobility impaired or haven't got any family around them so it’s very difficult for them to get out and socialise. The support and feedback we’ve had to date about the new service has been incredible and we can’t wait to expand it and help more people.”
Eligible groups can apply for up to $1,000 including GST (Terms and Conditions apply) from the Connecting Communities fund. The next two funding rounds are 4-14 July, and 31 October–10 November 2022. More details about the fund and other Te Hau Toka initiatives can be found online here.
Background
The Connecting Communities fund is part of a $3 million Government fund and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE)’s Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan. It’s enabling Te Hau Toka to help support, promote and protect the social and mental wellbeing of people living in Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell and Te Anau/Fiordland, and assist with addressing the ongoing negative effects of COVID-19.
Te Hau Toka partners with the Wakatipu Community Foundation to manage and distribute the Connecting Communities funding to recipients on its behalf.
For more information, please contact:
tehautoka@southernhealth.nz