Rural drama and rugby benefit from funds boost

A Fijian rugby team and Marlborough students with a flair for the dramatic are set to benefit from a funds boost.

Five Top of the South community organisations have benefited from forestry company OneFortyOne’s community grants program this month.

The Marlborough Fijian Community received $1800 which supports their Covenant Brothers Team, a dedicated group of rugby enthusiasts, to participate in the Marlborough 7s, hosted by Navigation Pasifika.

REAP Marlborough received a $1800 grant which will help fund drama education for rural communities in Marlborough.

Education Adviser for REAP Marlborough Selena Tonks says the grant funding will allow them to deliver the drama workshops in six rural communities in Marlborough.

“The performance will bring the community together as we use drama to learn about local Marlborough places and stories,” she says.

As well as having fun, students will learn new skills in a positive way which helps build resilience.

“The programs will be aimed at tamariki and students and along with having fun and learning a new skill it’s also hoped it will help build student resilience and emotional regulation, leading to reduced stress and anxiety,” she says.

OneFortyOne’s Corporate Affairs Manager Kylie Reeves says the company is keen to support projects which benefit People, Ideas, Nature, Environment (PINE) in the form of one-off grants up to $5000.

“We assess the applications every two months, giving consideration to our objectives and impact – this ensures the process is fair, but otherwise we leave it to applicants to let us know what they need most.”

“This funding round we received applications from a diverse range of projects. The five successful organisations were chosen as it was felt that they would all make a big impact in the community in their own way.

“Since we launched in July 2021, we have supported 60 community projects in the region, contributing over $160,000 in funding and building materials through the community grants program,” Kylie says.

Other successful Top of the South grant recipients in February are:

Below are the other successful February grant recipients

Hearing Association Nelson Inc: $5000

Tamaha Sea Scouts based in Mapua: $1,430

Valley Stags Rugby Club: $2,000.