A fourth round of funding for local mental wellbeing initiatives is set to give Southern Lakes communities a boost for the summer season.

Run by Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group, the Connecting Communities fund supports community-led activities and events across Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell, and Te Anau / Fiordland which encourage people to connect, look after themselves and each other, and have some fun.

 The next funding round opens on 31 October and closes on 10 November. Eligible not-for-profit organisations and groups can apply for up to $1000 from Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group’s Connecting Communities fund to assist with funding their activity or event.

Broadly, the criteria include positively engaging with the local community; supporting mental wellbeing; aligning with one or more of the Five Ways to Wellbeing and Te Whare Tapa Wha; and being locally delivered in Queenstown, Wanaka, Cromwell or Te Anau / Fiordland.

Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group Chair Adell Cox says that her team continues to be inspired by the creative ideas being put forward and the collaboration growing between groups.

"We’re thrilled to see more groups working together and developing successful one-off activities into longer term programmes which will provide ongoing community benefits.

"Each round of funding applications gives us more insight into what’s going on for our different communities so we do our best to connect like-minded groups and encourage collaboration and cross-promotion where we can through our networks," Cox says.

In July, 54 initiatives from across Queenstown, Wanaka, Te Anau/Fiordland and Cromwell received funding totalling more than $50,000.

Details about the funding round, including how to apply, can be found at  www.southernhealth.nz/tehautoka.