Community Trust South is committed to distributing at least $6.5 million in grants and scholarships over the next six months, with regional and community development projects the main priority.

Chairwoman Trish Boyle confirmed today the trust had modified its funding vision to align with regional and community strategies to battle the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Facility maintenance and repairs, capital projects and touring events do not have high priority for now.

Grant applications were coming in and staff were talking with some applicants about whether funding could be postponed in the short term, “but otherwise it is business as usual,’’ Mrs Boyle said.

The trust distributed $7.7 million in grants and scholarship last year.

All 10 trustees are continuing to represent the trust, including retiring trustees Penny Simmonds, of Invercargill, and Richard Wason, of Te Anau.

Both trustees have completed two four-year terms but their June retirement has been delayed by the Covid-19 situation.

Mrs Boyle said the trust had sent some names to the Minister of Finance but had no say in who would be appointed or when. The Minister could decide to appoint someone of his own choosing, she said.

A Department of Internal Affairs spokesperson told the Southland App “it is anticipated that the new terms of office will begin in September’’.

The trust’s revised strategic vision for Covid-19 identifies high, medium and low priorities for investment over the next six months.

Mrs Boyle said the trust had gathered information from Queenstown and Te Anau about the priorities and needs in those places.

The trust decided at a board meeting it wanted to take a “measured approach’’ to funding requests so requested staff to draw up the new criteria.

Mrs Boyle said the trust understood people and organisations were hurting, particularly those that might have expected grants from gaming charities and venues, which are experiencing a reduction in revenue.

Events organisers who have received Community Trust South funding but have had to cancel events would be able to keep valid costs incurred for planning the event but could be asked to return any unused portion of funding, Mrs Boyle said.

“We are trying to be reasonable . . . We also acknowledge events are important for wellbeing,’’ she said.

The trust’s region covers all of Southland and extends into West Otago and Queenstown.

In the short term the following will not be a high priority:

• Maintenance and repair of facilities

• Capital projects unless there is strong evidence that it will:

• Stimulate recovery

• Can be commenced within the next 6 months

• Has a community or regional social or economic outcome, i.e. creates or retains jobs or leverages additional funding into the region

• Touring productions and organisations/projects delivered from outside the region given the need to focus on and to support local

• Projects events and programmes that conflict with any COVID-19 Alert level guidelines

• Duplication of services or existing similar activities

More details are on Community Trust South’s website: https://www.communitytrustsouth.nz/assets/Strategic-Vision-Covid-19-A4-print-version.pdf