Brake (New Zealand) is a national road safety charity that works to prevent road-related deaths and injuries, making communities safer. The charity also provides free support to people who have been bereaved or seriously injured in crashes. Brake received a grant of $1,279 to purchase promotional materials and merchandise that will help raise awareness of the services it offers and promote important road safety messages.

Ellerslie Toy Library Incorporated provides families with access to affordable and high-quality educational toys and equipment. The library has a mission to create a positive environmental impact by allowing families to rent toys to reduce wastage when children outgrow their toys. Ellerslie Toy Library received a grant of $1,096 to purchase multicultural toys, expanding its current library and providing a fun way to teach children about cultural history, language, tradition, and diversity.

Graeme Dingle Foundation Wellington has a vision to help make New Zealand the best place in the world for young people to grow up and flourish. The foundation is dedicated to showing kids that what they have inside is much greater than any obstacle they face. The foundation received a grant of $1,667 towards mental health first aid training for its current team and new members, so they can continue to effectively support young people who are struggling with their mental wellbeing.

Hannah Anderson has epilepsy and dyskinetic cerebral palsy which affects her muscle tone, posture and ability to control limb movements. Hannah is restricted with her current wheelchair as it is unable to be safely pushed across all surfaces, impacting her ability to participate with peers at school. Hannah received a grant of $3,750 towards the purchase of a Delta All-Terrain Buggy which will improve her accessibility in environments such as the beach or bush tracks. The buggy will provide long-term use for Hannah, improving her overall life satisfaction, and expanding opportunities and inclusion.

He Waka Eke Noa Charitable Trust is dedicated to making the arts accessible for all, regardless of social, economic, and geographical isolation. As part of its mission, the trust has leased a dedicated arts venue in Onehunga – Kete Aronui. This venue provides an accessible hub and rehearsal space where the community can come together to feel a sense of identity and inclusion. The trust received a grant of $3,172 to purchase mirrors and curtains to fit out four rooms at the Kete Aronui Community Centre.

Photo Credit: Lara Macgregor

House of Science NZ Charitable Trust is dedicated to empowering teachers to support New Zealand children with their scientific literacy. The trust received a grant of $10,000 to purchase four science resource kits for its South and West Auckland branches. Each kit contains at least five different experiments and activities that cover a wide range of topics aligning with the NZ science curriculum. The additional kits will enable these Auckland branches to support the current waitlist of schools wanting to use its resources.

James Trevena-Brown’s 37-year-old brother Simon is unable to walk because of a degenerative brain disease, Spinocerebellar Ataxia 7. Simon is one of only a few people in New Zealand with this condition that will soon leave him blind and unable to talk. James received a grant of $3,800 to purchase an electric bike that will provide Simon with the freedom to get outside of the house safely, improving his overall quality of life.

Manawahe Eco Trust (MET) is dedicated to managing and enhancing the native biodiversity of the Manawahe Ecological Corridor. Within this area are populations of threatened species including, kārearea, king fern and species of kōkako. MET run a wide range of predator control programmes and trials, the most recent targeting wallabies which are causing a devastating impact on the native forest. The trust received a grant of $2,000 to fund ten bait pumps as they continue to determine the most effective method of wallaby control.

Mary McRitchie’s 9-year-old son Lucus has Autism, ADHD and severe anxiety which severely impact his day-to-day life. Mary received a grant of $6,500 to purchase and train a therapy support dog. The support dog will assist Lucus with his return to full-time school, helping him to feel more comfortable outside of his home and alleviating some of the loneliness and self-esteem issues he struggles with.

Methven Toy Library Inc offers a wide range of quality, well-designed toys and equipment for families and children in the Canterbury region. The library works to ensure that through play, children have the opportunity to learn key problem solving and communication skills as well as cultural awareness. The library received a grant of $647 to purchase STEM and New Zealand cultural toys which will help to expand its range and improve its availability of toys.