- As a result of the earthquakes, Christchurch and Canterbury faced challenges unlike those faced by any other community.
- We needed to be creative; to find a way to support community resilience in innovative ways.
- One idea we put to the Government was a Crown-Council partnership to fund community resilience and wellbeing initiatives.
- Today’s announcement is the culmination of that idea, with the Government agreeing to contribute $1 million a year for three years, with the Council matching that.
- It is the first time the Christchurch City Council and the Government have entered into a health funding partnership of this kind.
- We are delighted to be able to launch the initiative today, and know it will be of great benefit to communities across Greater Christchurch.
- As a council, we are well placed to support community-led recovery initiatives, and this is what the Government has recognised in this unique co-funding arrangement.
- The fund will support community-led wellbeing and resilience initiatives.
- This fund is an investment in local communities.
- Council will work with communities and local organisations to identify and develop local projects and initiatives which will will improve social connectedness and active participation in community life.