Of those who applied for help, 556 were given some money from the fund and another 372 were given other assistance by fund officers. The Fund is a ratepayer-funded charitable trust which gives relief to Christchurch residents and visitors suffering hardship or distress. It helps pay for rent, electricity, clothing, medical expenses, child enrichment and childcare.

The City Council puts in $200,000 a year and provides for its administration. Last year, in addition to the Council grant, the Fund received $40,000 from the Community Trust to help the Fund’s Child Enrichment scheme, more than $16,000 in donations from individuals, businesses and other trusts and about $42,400 in interest, most of which was generated by a bequest to the fund that has been invested for some years.

In the first six months of this year, the highest demands on the fund were for help with paying rent ($31,700), electricity and firewood ($23,400), furniture ($5100), medical ($3500) and phone ($2400).

The Child Enrichment Fund paid out about $22,500. It distributes money so children get the same opportunity as others to take part in things like school camps and trips, or travel to sporting and cultural events. It also subsidises childcare costs for children in at-risk situations.

The Making it Happen Fund – which aims to help people make the most of their talents and abilities and ensure that rare opportunities are not lost through lack of funding – distributed a little under $2900.

• For more information about the Mayor’s Welfare Fund, phone 941 8635. For more general information about City Council community funding, go to www.ccc.govt.nz/guides/funding/ on the internet.