This fund supports local activities and events that directly benefit the communities concerned. Find out about how to apply and the kinds of projects that can get funding.
About the Community Engagement Fund
Community boards receive a set amount of funding to give out to applicants each financial year.
Applications must support the Local Community Plan (if there is one) and also core Council business identified in our Long Term Plan.
Community Engagement Fund Information Sheet (PDF 231.4 KB).
Eligibility criteria
You must:
- have legal status as charitable trusts or incorporated societies that have the right to receive or administer charitable funding
- be based in Hutt City
- be planning an event/activity in Hutt City.
Available funding
Hutt City Council made budgetary provisions in 2021/2022 of $48,850 per annum through the Community Boards/Funding Panels as follows:
Community boards
| Board | Amount |
| Eastbourne | $2,366 |
| Petone | $6,250 |
| Wainuiomata | $8,607 |
In its draft Annual Plan 2023/24, Council is proposing to reduce spending on some non-urgent projects and work programmes in response to current economic challenges. This includes reducing the money available in the Local Projects Fund (by 50%) in this triennium and changing the way this fund and the Community Engagement Fund are distributed.
We’re currently consulting on the draft Annual Plan and considering options for how the funding can be distributed, ensuring it still goes into the communities it’s intended for. Because Community Boards distribute the Community Engagement Fund in their areas, that fund is able to go ahead at the usual time in Eastbourne, Petone and Wainuiomata. In wards that previously had Community Panels - Western, Northern, Eastern, Central, there will be a delay to the distribution of the fund while options for distribution are worked through. Funding is still ringfenced for these communities, it will just be advertised and distributed a little later than usual. Thanks for your patience. If you have any questions contact funding@huttcity.govt.nz.
What we fund
- Purchase of office equipment
- Food and catering costs
- Community festivals
- Youth group events and projects run by the elderly or citizens associations
- Art projects that are not part of the core curriculum
- Advertising, promotion costs
What we don't fund
We don't fund activities that:
- promote an organisation’s religious, ethical, commercial or political views
- involve buying land or buildings or carrying out maintenance on buildings
- duplicate services that are already covered by Council or by government agencies eg, health or education providers
- have already begun or have already finished
- involve the redistribution of funds to others at the applicant’s discretion
- involve fundraising or legal costs
- involve capital investments or trust funds
- go towards prize money
- are operational costs eg, salaries, wages, rent, power.
Funding rules
Successful applicants must:
- use funds only for the approved purpose and in line with any terms and conditions we've set
- use funds by June 30 of the following year
- let Council’s funding officer know immediately if any difficulty or potential difficulty arises that may compromise the service or project
- allow us to audit the use of the funds if we decide to
- recognise our support in all publicity material, annual reports and similar publications
- complete an online Accountability Report no later than six weeks after completing the project. This should outline how the funds were used and how the community benefited
- lay a complaint with Police if any funds are stolen or misappropriated, and then notify us
- present back to the Community Board/Funding Panel to show how the project/event met its objectives.
How to apply
For more information see our funding calendar
Past successful applicants
Contact details
Email: funding@huttcity.govt.nz