Wellington City Council (WCC) has dropped more than $1 million in additional funding to help the community recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
On Thursday WCC announced 73 projects will receive funding covering a range of issues including family violence, homelessnes and mental wellbeing.
One of the major grant recipients is Age Concern Wellington which has received $95,064 to continue its ReConnect programme launched in lockdown.
ReConnect includes services like penpals, grocery shopping, food parcel delivery and coffee groups for elderly people to ensure they aren't lonely.
Issues around isolation and loneliness for the elderly became more prominent during the lockdown, but Age Concern chief executive Atephen Opie says there's always work to be done.
"Helping our city's seniors recover and reintegrate back into normal life will be an ongoing task," he said.
Councillor Fleur Fitzsimmons says the grant will go a long way towards helping Wellington's elderly people.
" I have heard of lonely people who have gone weeks without talking to someone, the Age Concern Accredited Visitor scheme will help build special relationships and start to make our city one which is the opposite of loneliness."
Other major projects include the Wellington City Mission, the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network, Shakti Ethnic Women's Support Group and the Take 10 Mobile Youth Support Zone.
Mayor Andy Foster says the money will make a huge difference to the lives of Wellingtonians.
"These Council allocations are going to organisations that benefit our city's mental and physical well-being, and will also make a big impact on the post-COVID world which has affected so many different walks of life in so many different ways."
A full list of grant recipients can be found here
