Principals Discretionary Fund 2025

Community Trust South allocates funding to all 94 schools in our area through the Principals' Discretionary Fund.

The purpose of the fund is to ensure every student has the opportunity to achieve their potential.

The fund is made up of three components with the following goals:

• Part A: Providing essential foundation in students' lives for them to thrive.
• Part B: Supporting students to learn and participate
• Part C:  Enabling the conditions for students to thrive despite location.

A total of approximately $600,000 per annum is available for allocation to schools.

Is available to be used, at the Principal’s discretion, towards resources and/or extra curricular activities (not normally considered payable from schools’ operational funding), for an individual student whose family financial circumstance might preclude them from otherwise taking part.

The funds may be used, in whole or part, for the following purposes:

• providing essential support, equipment where there are no other funding available e.g. personal items such as glasses, sport equipment to enable participation in a school team.
• paying for school uniform, stationery, meals for a students.
• paying fees where no other financial assistance exists, so that a student may gain appropriate academic qualifications. 
• support involvement in curricular activities, such as out of classroom education (camps or trips).

Please note that funding cannot be used to purchase school equipment.

If you are uncertain as to whether or not a subsidy for any particular activity is appropriate, please either phone us to discuss on 0800 500 185 or 03 218 2034, or email ngaire@communitytrustsouth.nz         

Is available to be used at the Principal’s discretion, in pursuit of any of the following Community Trust South strategic aspirations: 

Can be used for the following activities:

• addressing issues of inequality that present barriers to learning and participating.
• supporting students identified by their school as being at risk of disengaging.
• supporting the preparation of students for life after their schooling.
• encouraging students to lead healthy active lifestyles.
• support students to access art, heritage, cultural, sport and recreation experiences.
• support Māori to thrive through strong connection to their cultural ancestry.
• supporting Tamariki to have Mana Motuhake (self determination).

If you have any questions about uses of Part B funding please phone us to discuss on 0800 500 185 or 03 218 2034, or email ngaire@communitytrustsouth.nz 

Your application needs to be completed and submitted by Monday 10 March 2025 in order to receive payment.

To receive future Principals' Discretionary Fund payments, in late November 2025 Principals are required to account for how their discretionary funding allocation has been used including detailing:

• purpose for which the funding was used i.e. which of the Community Trust South activities or priorities the funding aligned with;
• amounts of funding spent on various activities/purposes;
• number of students benefiting.