Autism NZ
Let's Play
Graeme Dingle Foundation
Nga Ara Whetu/Career Navigator 2025- Stewart Germann Grant
Let’s Play is a whānau programme that aims to bridge the gap between the likelihood of an autism/takiwātanga diagnosis and the start of early intervention services, empowering whānau to begin the role of enduring educator for their tamaiti.
Contact: Thecla Moffatt
Thecla Moffat Thecla.Moffat@autismnz.org.nz
The programme supports young people through youth development programmes in areas of high social deprivation where they may be exposed to significant environmental obstacles such as; social disruption, early school drop-out rates, high youth suicide, or inter-generational unemployment. The grant is supporting programmes in Far North, Rotorua and Wellington.
Contact: Courtney Keenan
Maia Centre
The Hustle Network
The Hustle Network evolved out of our work with Māori and Pasifika young people through the Brave Learning Kaupapa through which we learned that the most valuable support we can offer young Māori and Pasifika young people who have made the decision to leave school before the end of the year 13 is ongoing Manaaki – support, encouragement, companionship and, where appropriate, guidance, and formal and informal learning opportunities.
Contact: Jay Allnutt
Porirua East Kāhui Ako- Hauora Phase 2
This is a trauma-informed education, programme based on the Neurosequential Model of Education. This in turn is informed by indigenous models of wellness and healing, including mātauranga Māori.
Phase 1 has demonstrated that the programme can successfully· disrupt the effects of poverty and associated trauma, nurture the cognitive, social and behavioural abilities that enable other aspects of learning and build trauma-informed capabilities and practices across 12 schools in a single community
Contact: Peter O'Connor
Silverstream South Primary School- Taieri Attendance Shuttle
The grant is for the operational costs of a shuttle bus to ensure children are able to attend 3 schools with some extremely challenging demographic issues in this catchment as far as poverty, alcoholism, drug use, domestic violence and family harm.
Contact: Greg Hurley
Storytime Foundation
First 1000 Days
The grant provides operational support to this successful initiative, with Storytime Foundation working collaboratively with Plunket, tamariki ora providers, Family Start, Corrections, Police, Brainwave Trust, Little Libraries, National Library and others, to bring important information/learning as well as books and other resources to vulnerable families, better understanding of their role in building the great brains of their babies and young children.
Contact: Tony Culliney
Tim Bray Theatre Company Santa Claus Show
Funding for free tickets and travel for disadvantaged children to attend show, linked to curriculum related in school activities.
Contact: Kendall Green
Grant for specialist equipment for safe space for neurodiverse learners.
Contact: Saane Faaofo Oldehaver
Whenua iti outdoors
Rā Ora (Wellbeing Day) Programme
Grant is for transport to programme for disadvantaged tamariki who missed early childhood education during the Covid years. They have reduced social skills and resilience due to the upheaval of these years. The programme activities emphasise teamwork and personal development through collaborative activities and group challenges.
Contact: Margaret Woolgrove
Acorn Trust- Acorns to Oaks School Readiness Programme
The transition between kindergarten and primary school is critical for setting up children for success in their school career. Autistic and neurodivergent children are particularly vulnerable at this transition as they may not have the communication skills and emotional regulation which enable social relationships and pre-literacy foundations to develop. Acorn Neurodiversity and Northern Auckland Free Kindergarten Association t/a Kaitiaki Kindergartens are collaborating to start this new initiative, Acorns to Oaks School Readiness Programme to support neurodivergent and developmentally disabled children to transition to primary school.
Contact: Tami Harris