Funding and Grants

For more information or to apply for any of these scholarships or grants, please contact Bronwyn Affleck at Venture Southland, ph: 03) 211-1400 or by email bronwyn.affleck@venturesouthland.co.nz

The Eric Hawkes Memorial Outward Bound Scholarship for people aged 18 - 26 years inclusive (21 Day Standard Course)

The Southland District Council will sponsor one person's course and travel fees. Applicants and/or their parents or guardians must currently live in the Southland District Council area and have done so for at least two consecutive years before applying.

The Eric Hawkes Memorial Outward Bound Scholarship for people aged 27 years and over (Compact 9 Day Course)

The Southland District Council will sponsor one person in this category. Sponsorship covers course fees only. Recipients are responsible for their own travel arrangements. Applicants and/or their parents or guardians must currently live in the Southland District Council area and have done so for at least two consecutive years before applying. 

Valmai Robertson - Creative New Zealand Dance Scholarship

This scholarship is to encourage and assist Southland District residents who participate in the field of dance to further develop their skills through attending courses, workshops, schools or other. The maximum assistance provided to any individual whether in one grant or cumulatively will not exceed $500.

Applicants and/or their parents or guardians must currently live in the Southland District Council area and have done so for at least two consecutive years before applying. 

Southland District Council Centennial Bursary

The Southland District Council awards two bursaries annually with successful applicants receiving to up $2,000 each.  The bursaries can be held for one year only.

Applicants must be academically qualified for admission to a tertiary educational institution; no restriction will be placed on the particular course of study followed. Applicants are restricted to those about to start the first year of tertiary education (this includes mature students).

Applicants and/or their parents or guardians must currently live in the Southland District Council area and have done so for at least two consecutive years before applying. 

Southland District Council Creative New Zealand Arts Scholarship

The Southland District Council awards one Art Scholarship annually with the successful applicant receiving $1,000.  The scholarship can be held for one year only.

Applicants and/or their parents or guardians must currently live in the Southland District Council area and have done so for at least two consecutive years before applying.

A condition of accepting this scholarship will be that at the end of the year in which the scholarship is awarded, the recipient will be required to offer up to four pieces of artwork which will then be exhibited in the SDC Invercargill office and may be subsequently circulated to appropriate venues within the District.

SOUTHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES FUND, CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND FUND AND SPORT NEW ZEALAND RURAL TRAVEL FUND

Applications to these funds are considered twice annually. Applications close on 31 March or 30 September each year. The Allocations Committee meets in May and November each year to consider applications and award grants to community groups and organisations.

Southland District Council Community Initiatives Fund

The Southland District Council Community Initiatives Fund is available to support the development of:

Community facilities or amenities including:

• Community Centres / Halls
• Local reserves and picnic areas
• Playgrounds
• Walkways and tracks
• Sports fields
• Swimming pools
• Changing room facilities associated with the above

Sport and recreational opportunities

Community programmes, activities or events

Community Initiatives Fund - Application Form

Sport New Zealand - Rural Travel Fund

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

Southland District Council Creative Communities New Zealand Scheme

The purpose of the Creative Communities Scheme is to:

• - Increase participation in the arts at a local level
• - Increase the range and diversity of arts available to communities

Both groups and individuals involved with arts/culture may apply for a grant subsidy for projects that benefit local communities in the area administered by the Southland District Council.

Ohai Railway Fund

Applications to this fund are considered twice annually.  Applications close on 31 March or 30 September each year. 

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 1990 and whose address at the time was within the area of the former Board.

Eligible Purposes:

• The provision of bursaries for tertiary 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.

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.