In the recent findings from our Covid-19 Community Needs research, Kiwi charities across the board identified "mental health" as the most important issue affecting their communities during times of lockdown. 

“Since covid lockdowns the levels and complexities of issues young are having has increased our workload by 50% with an 80% increase in risk and spike in mental health issues around anxiety and depression, suicide ideation and self-harm, abuse and with the need for more care and protection interventions from our teams” - Nationwide Youth Charity

The survey conducted by the Catalytic Foundation received 560 responses from New Zealand charities across the three different COVID-19 lockdown periods in 2020 and 2021. The top three issues identified by charities in regards to the communities they serve were "mental health", "adequate housing" and "financial security" (which includes access to food and basic needs).

Practically all charities have been affected by the pandemic and many experienced an increased demand for services this year. For many charities, obtaining additional funding remains a priority and the amount needed has increased compared to last year, largely due to operational costs/expenses, and efforts to keep staff employed. 

“We are witnessing much higher levels of anxiety in our clients and staff” Social services charity in Otago

As community charities and not-for-profit organisations seek to address major social issues, most of them lack the resources, secure funding or even volunteers to help them work effectively and Covid-19 has only added to this strain. Charities have similar costs to commercial organisations yet they are trying to operate on the smell of an oily rag and they need our support!

“There has been a huge increase in demand for our services, especially for food parcels, emergency housing and mental health support” Community charity in Northland

In response to the findings from the Community Needs Surveys, the Catalytic Foundation has established donation pages for the following mental health charities: Youth in Transition (Auckland) and Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust (Otago).

Please click on their names for further details about how you can help

Thank you to the Dunedin Community House for being a centralized space for charity and local groups to welcome and assist the community

Dunedin Community House (DCH) provides a convenient inner-city community services’ hub for Ōtepoti Dunedin. The team works hard to achieve a vision of thriving and connected communities through the provision of a welcoming, safe, and supportive place for individuals, groups and communities to access services and resources. 

DCH is a place where people seek and receive advice, support, advocacy and practical assistance for a broad range of health and social issues. There are approximately 17 charities that are office tenants of DCH, with a further 13 other charities and community groups also delivering their services from rooms in the DCH.  

The Catalytic Foundation grant enabled the DCH to continue to serve their communities and charities. Specifically, the grant contributed to the payment of the contracted reception services so that that the DCH offices, meeting rooms and spaces were welcoming, safe and accessible to all. With so many charities and groups sharing the space, receptionist services is essential as they are the first source of contact for people seeking services or information.

The Catalytic Foundation are glad to have helped Dunedin Community House as we know how important it can be to provide strong support to the charities that are using them as a base and point of contact.

The recent findings from our Covid-19 Community Needs research has found that community charities need our help now more than ever. Please consider a donation or setting up workplace giving so we can get support to where it's needed most. 

While Covid-19 has hit Aotearoa hard, the 'Love Soup' team have been collecting, sorting and distributing good food to assist communities, whanau and people in need around Auckland, the Waikato and Tokoroa regions.

DONATE HERE

Julie and her team are getting good supplies of food to redistribute, however, they still have to pay for the vans, petrol, storage rent, salaries, operations and volunteer costs.

How can you help? By donating to Love Soup via the link above.

We would like to acknowledge and thank the team and volunteers at Camellia House in Manawatu.

Their annual impact report shows they utilised our community grant for maintenance and smooth running of the house. Camellia House is known for being a safe haven for women and their children in Manawatu, offering temporary accommodation and support services to enable them to be independent. They have directly supported 21 women and 15 children between March 2021 and July 2021. 

During these tough times, mums with children were able to benefit from their stays at Camellia House and were helped with parenting and budgeting courses. They ensured that every child that left Camellia House was enrolled in kindergarten/school and sought ongoing support if required with mental health and addiction services.

The Catalytic Foundation (donation managers for The Tindall Foundation and Workplace donors) is proud to supporting Camellia House and their amazing services for women and children in need in the Manawatu. 

Immediate support needed for South Auckland 'Budgeting and Family Support Services Foodbank' 

CLICK TO DONATE

100% of your donations will directly support South Auckland families, individuals, pensioners and the homeless, with food parcels from the Budgeting and Family Support Services Food Bank, in Mangere, Otara & Tuakau

"As food insecurity grows by the day due COVID-19 Lockdown, we are seeing a huge number of people needing food. With many schools closed due to potential Covid contact, many of these families are forced to self-isolate at home for 14 days. These same people then cannot supermarket shop and most are turning to food banks, like ours to meet their needs. Demand is up around 80% on last year.

We are hearing some tragic stories such as the 74 yr. old pensioner living in his car with his small dog; who says he couldn’t sustain his private flat in Mangere Bridge. We have been able to provide him with food boxes, water and blankets etc. Then there is a couple of families referred to us due to domestic violence within the home. Whatever the need or their story, we do what we can to feed their need.

This lockdown has meant that we have been running out of produce quickly, from meat, milk, bread, eggs through to canned foods such as baked beans, spaghetti, tomatoes and then staples like rice, pasta and flour.

We are grateful for any and all support we can get from produce through to cash donations, which allow us to purchase the essential foods that we need to go into our food parcels".  Darryl Evans, CEO, Budgeting and Family Support Services

   DONATE NOW

100% of your donation will go Budgeting and Family Support Services Foodbank 

Thank you to the team and volunteers at Pregnancy Help Otago. Their annual impact report shows whānau were resourced through the provision of practical support: 607 reusable nappies, 666 items of pregnancy clothing, 1098 items of baby bedding, 8144 disposable nappies and 24,462 items of baby and children’s clothing. Young families are very grateful for this help in the Otago region!

Services provided to 1316 people in the last year included: breastfeeding support services, education about safe sleeping and resources relating to pregnancy and parenting. Safe sleeping was supported by the provision of 111 sleep spaces (82 bassinets, 24 pēpi-pods, and 5 wahakura).

"Every bit helps and with Covid19 it can be difficult to locate items you need or even go and get the items. It's very tough times and to have the support of Pregnancy Help is very much appreciated"

Living Well Counselling Service in Levin have reported a huge demand for their services according to their latest impact report received by the Catalytic Foundation. 

With a wait list of over 35 clients, they are dealing with an unprecedented demand. During lockdown they are relying on online services to cope with this demand, however, face to face counselling will resume as soon as Covid-19 lockdown is lifted.  

Living Well Counselling services help people return to work, & return to school or education. With their help people are able to build safe relationships, provide a safe environment in their homes and become empowered to make sound decisions.

We would like to thank Living Well Counselling Service in Levin for their community services. They work hard to help people decrease their depression, anxiety, violence towards others, fears and help people improve their overall wellbeing.

"When people experience distress or difficulties in their lives many like to talk through their experiences with trained professionals. Some people do this to understand more fully what led to the current problems, learn new skills and increase positive emotions. Others find having a forum to express their thoughts in a non-judgmental context, while gaining some feedback or insight, the most important part. Counselling can help you discover meaning, options, resolution, hope, purpose, understanding and solutions".

Thank you Dell Technologies NZ for donating laptops for our community charities: 
Shore Junction received 6 laptops to support their youth innovation hub, in Auckland.
This will help provide computers for programming and to support innovation, learning and creativity

Together we’ve made Christmas special for more young New Zealanders than ever before:

The goodwill and generosity of individuals and organisations has resulted in the Shoebox Project 2020 helping more young New Zealanders and their families than ever before. This year, 1556 boxes of gifts where delivered to families in hardship so they had presents to open on Christmas morning. That’s an increase of over 50% on last year.

It’s been an unprecedented year for those working to support our communities. Research conducted by Catalytic Foundation (formerly United Way NZ) in 2020 showed 98% of our charity partners were affected by the social and economic effects of Covid-19. Most expect the effects to continue for some time. 

Thank you for making a significant difference to the lives of so many young New Zealanders and their families.

Christmas Shoebox Project 2020 Snapshot

1556 New Zealanders had something to open this Christmas

40 organisations, groups and individuals donated time and funding

32 community organisations received Shoeboxes to distribute to families/whanau

50% more young New Zealanders received a Shoebox compared with last year

11 New Kiwi organisations welcomed into the Shoebox Project whanau

85 Volunteers nationwide assisted the 2020 Christmas Shoebox Project 

Please see below the list of generous individuals and organisations who have provided donations, volunteering and distribution services, to ensure we delivered  Christmas boxes to families in need, throughout Aotearoa.

It's been an amazing effort by a collective of people who have shown they really care.
Thank you for helping support families throughout NZ in 2020, roll on 2021!

Several frontline community charities the length of New Zealand are supporting a greater number of New Zealanders manage the effects of Covid-19 thanks to the ingenuity and community spirit of Shimano New Zealand Ltd.

When United Way New Zealand launched our #Unite20 campaign in April to get emergency funding directly to community charities managing a surge in demand for services alongside a reduction in funding channels, Shimano New Zealand stepped up with an exciting proposal. In the spirit of Kiwi mateship and ingenuity, the team decided to donate 5% of all sales across the country during May and June to the #Unite20 Appeal. Just like that, Shimano’s Support your Local initiative was quickly launched.

United Way New Zealand CEO, Teresa Moore says Support Your Local represented everything United Way New Zealand stands for.

“United Way New Zealand’s vision is to provide every New Zealander with the ability to support their community, whether through volunteering, regular payroll giving or one-off donations. By designing a giving initiative including its national customer and stakeholder community, Shimano truly brought our vision to life.”

Shimano New Zealand Marketing Manager, Yvette Johnson, said the team was inspired by United Way New Zealand’s #Unite20 campaign as it directed funding quickly into many frontline community charities across the country.

“We’re a business which operates in communities of all sizes across New Zealand. We were pleased to find a partner with a firm track record in the community sector, which could get funding to the smaller charities working in communities all over the country.”

Shimano’s funding has been distributed to charities and not-for-profits supporting struggling New Zealanders from Kaitaia to Dunedin.

“Our research showed that 98% of New Zealand charities and not-for-profits have been affected by Covid-19. Thanks to the generosity of both individuals and corporate partners such as Shimano, we have raised over $240,000 which is enabling community charities all across the country to continue their critical work at a time when our communities need them the most,”

“Small actions when combined together result in very significant impacts,” says Moore.

The United Way New Zealand #Unite 20 Appeal has been extended until November. If you’d like to join those helping community charities support New Zealanders doing it tough, you can read about the charities and donate here.