A not for profit charitable trust, Wanaka Community Workshop (WCW) operations is heavily reliant on volunteer time, contestable funding and community goodwill to meet its operating budget and outgoing expenses, while balancing the need to deliver the trust’s purposes, which are to build community resilience by enabling community connection; creating social situations where people can develop new skills; and reducing waste in the construction sector.
“Grants pay for things like tools, but sponsorship in the form of cash is a massive boost. Thanks to ITM’s support, Wanaka Community Workshop will be able to scale up its operations by turning some volunteer roles into paid roles, which will enable us to increase our capacity and assist more people in the community,” says WCW co-founder and trustee Ben Acland.
“ITM have been supporting us with a trade account, special rates and deals on tools and timber since we started, and by giving us wood that could not be sold but was still suitable for the WCW’s trap making projects. It’s a long-standing partnership which has made it possible for WCW to operate,” says Ben.
ITM and WCW are looking forward to working together to reduce build and construction waste.
WCW, now in its second year, is going from strength to strength. With a growing membership base, a strong local MenShed group, and a workshop product offering, the WCW has good community engagement and is collaborating with many environmental trusts in the Upper Clutha region.