Victim Support has been declined $10,000 in funding from the Central Otago District Council for help funding additional resources in the district.

As a first-time applicant, the organisation was one of two nationally, along with the Plunket Society, that council decided it wouldn’t support through its $151,000 district wide grants scheme.

Mayor Tim Cadogan said more national organisations were coming to council looking for funding, and warned “this might be our last grants round,” as it was currently carrying out a review of its policy.

Victim Support funding specialist Denise Graham spoke to council yesterday and has also met with ACT MP Todd Stephenson as a result of under resourcing in the area.

With offices based at police stations in Cromwell, Queenstown and Alexandra, Central Otago only has one part-time team leader and the organisation faces difficulties recruiting volunteers.

The geographical distance between offices was also challenging, and the organisation wanted to employ an additional staff member.

Denise said over the past 12 months Victim Support has assisted 300 people in the district, and emphasised how the organisation could be a “game changer” for those affected by crime.

Just last week Victim Support was successful in gaining funding from Central Lakes Trust, but that was only 14 per cent of its operating expenses.

The organisation also has a pending application with the Russell Henderson Trust, which will be decided at the end of September.

Groups that were successful in the latest funding round were Sport Otago, which received $48,400, the Central Otago Heritage Trust, $44,000, Central Otago District Arts Trust, $44,000, Central Otago Health Inc, $7500, Volunteer South, $5000, and the Life Education Trust Heartland Otago Southland, $4000.