Canterbury Social Support Fund
The Canterbury Social Support Fund – previously referred to as the Canterbury Earthquake Community Response Fund – is a $10 million fund that has been made available by Government for the 2011/2012 financial year for continued social services support for the people of Canterbury as part of the recovery efforts following the Canterbury and Christchurch earthquakes.The fund will support trauma counselling services, coordination and case management for families with multiple problems, and critical community-based social services responding to the Canterbury and Christchurch earthquakes.
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Canterbury Social Support Fund criteria
Providers of critical social services can apply for funding. Applications will be assessed against the following criteria.
All applications should:
- be from not-for-profit community organisations or social service providers delivering critical social services to families, children, young and/or older people, at no cost
- respond to an evidenced priority social and/or community need, to an increase in demand for a particular service, and/ or to an unmet need arising from the Canterbury and Christchurch earthquakes
- be working with vulnerable groups, family, whanau and communities including:
- at-risk children, families, and older people; Maori; Pacifica; refugees and migrants; people with disabilities; those who are poor; and parenting alone
- supporting the recovery and wellbeing of:
- families under stress, paying particular attention to families where there is a risk of child abuse and/or neglect, or
- vulnerable and at-risk young people, or
- older people
- addressing issues of family violence or sexual violence
- supporting households needing budget and financial advice
- providing programmes where participants are able to support each other through group work, and group and community voluntary activities
- acknowledge that the grant is one-off funding
- confirm that the proposed grant holder is financially viable and has effective governance and management
- describe how the additional funding will assist providers to respond to social service needs resulting from the earthquakes
- include an implementation plan and describe the expected social outcomes from the investment, and how these outcomes will be measured
- include a reporting framework that describes client numbers and outcomes achieved and/or benefits accrued to a particular community
- demonstrate an awareness of, and collaboration with, other organisations working within the same sector and/or community.
Organisations that should apply for funding
Applications are particularly sought from organisations that:
- are working with people who live in geographical areas that have been hardest hit by the earthquake
- have developed services which are easily accessible to the target community, in terms of physical proximity as well as being appropriate to particular ethnic/target communities
- wherever possible are:
- involving the people most impacted by the earthquake in the planning, implementation and delivery of the project
- promoting the engagement of the most affected communities in the rebuilding of their own communities and the wider Christchurch and Canterbury region
- providing opportunities for individuals and whanau to build strong relationships between each other at the neighbourhood and community level.
- are developing innovative approaches to meeting particular social and community needs
- are collaborating with other organisations in order to increase effectiveness and efficiencies as well as promote learning across organisations and communities
- are committed to working in partnership with local and national government and iwi in the identification of need, planning, service/programme delivery and reporting.
What is not covered under the Fund
Funding will not be provided for the following:
- ongoing operational costs past the duration of the fund
- retrospective projects
- activities that replace voluntary/volunteer efforts
- capital items (eg vehicles or furniture) are generally not covered.
How to apply
Applicants need to complete the Canterbury Social Support Fund Application Form.
This document should be downloaded, completed and saved on your computer, then emailed to us at eqfund@familyservices.govt.nz
Application timetable
The Fund is open now. Applications will be assessed on a regular basis (initially weekly) to ensure eligible community organisations can get help as quickly as possible.
The closing date for the Fund is currently 30 June 2012.
For more information
Funding advisors from FACS and DIA will be available from 9 am to 4pm weekdays to assist with applications.
If you need assistance:
- contact your Ministry of Social Development funding advisor
- call 0800 777 100
- email eqfund@familyservices.govt.nz
