Organisations supporting young people across the Katikati to Ōpōtiki coastal region are being encouraged to apply for funding through the Bay of Plenty Education Trust’s Supplementary Grants scheme, with up to $75,000 available in 2026.
The scheme, introduced in 2021, provides financial support to groups working to empower and uplift youth in the wider Bay of Plenty.
Past recipients include ICONZ, the Graeme Dingle Foundation, Blue Light Ventures, House of Science, Arataki School, Big Buddy and the Youth Encounter programme.
Bay of Plenty Education Trust chairman Nick Earl said there’s no upper limit on how much an organisation can apply for, although historically the highest single grant has been $16,000.
He said the trust was keen to hear from new groups as well as previous applicants.
“We’re always open to considering agencies and organisations to support, whether through sponsorship or in partnership with others,” Earl said.
“We encourage anyone who is making a difference for young people in our region to apply.”
Applications are open until May 1 and can be submitted via email to tom@inghammora.co.nz. There is no formal application form – applicants simply need to provide a covering letter or email outlining:
- what their organisation does,
- how the grant funding would be used, and
- how the application meets the criteria published on the trust’s website.
Earl said the supplementary grants expand the ways the trust supports young people.
While best known for its annual Bay of Plenty scholarships for students entering tertiary education, the trust recognises that “not all students choose to advance their education through tertiary studies”.
“Successful supplementary grant applicants are most often involved in empowering students to overcome life’s obstacles and teaching them tools to build resilience and improve themselves,” he said.
“We love programmes that help broaden horizons and fuel aspiration in people. We firmly believe that with hard work, sacrifice and dedication, anyone can set and achieve realistic goals in life.”