Funds available to help you catch-up with your neighbours

If you cannot remember when you last got together with your neighbours, now might be a good time to start putting plans in place to change that.

Applications have opened for Christchurch City Council’s Summer With Your Neighbours scheme which provides a small amount of funding for events and activities that bring neighbourhoods together.

The scheme has been operating for the past few summers and has helped to pay for street parties, neighbourhood garage sales, potluck meals, sports days and even an annual potato growing competition.

“The beauty of Summer With Your Neighbours is that the ideas for bringing people together come from the neighbourhoods themselves. They choose how they want to connect and when,’’ says John Filsell, Council’s Head of Community Support and Partnerships.

“We’re there to provide a small bit of financial assistance but really the ball is in the residents’ court. They are the ones who make the fun happen and provide the chance for people to get to know each other better.

“The reason the Council provides some funding is because we know how important it is to have strong neighbourhoods and strong communities. We saw the benefit of that after the earthquakes and we want to continue to ensure that we encourage people to have strong bonds with their neighbours,’’ Mr Filsell says.

Applications for grants through the Summer With Your Neighbours scheme will be considered by the relevant Community Board.

Find out more about Summer With Your Neighbours and how to apply for a grant.