The Wanaka Community Workshop not-for-profit charity has joined forces with new sponsor ITM Southern Lakes to work on projects and reduce building and construction waste.
Co-founder and trustee Ben Acland said the workshop’s operations relied heavily on volunteers, contestable funding and community goodwill to meet its operating budget and outgoing expenses.
The relationship with ITM was a ‘‘massive boost’’ for the trust, which would be able to scale up its operations and pay some of its volunteers for their roles.
The trust aimed to build community resilience and community connections, create social situations, encourage new skills and reduce construction sector waste, Mr Acland said.
“Grants pay for things like tools, but sponsorship in the form of cash is a massive boost . . .[It] will enable us to increase our capacity and assist more people in the community,” Mr Acland said.
The trust is in its second year and collaborates with many environmental trusts in the Upper Clutha region.
Sponsorship ‘massive boost’
Flourishing partnership. . . Hemi Karamaena (left), of ITM, and Allan Harvey, of the Wanaka Community Workshop’s MenShed. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
