We have successfully united as a nation to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19, and all across the country, people have reached out to support those most impacted during lockdown and by the economic shock waves that have followed.
As the country enters a recovery phase, the Todd Foundation is committed to support our community funding partners as they work hard to support children, young people and families. Alongside Philanthropy New Zealand and other funders, we have pledged to offer our support in a way that is flexible, high-trust, responsive and collaborative.
In the short-term, we have provided funding support to community partners providing families with food, hygeine packs, and shelter from harm.
We have learnt from past crises (such as the Global Financial Crisis and the Canterbury earthquakes) that, while funding to support an immediate response phase is vital, considerable support will be needed in the medium to long-term to help families, communities and our economy to recover. With this in mind, we continue to meet with community leaders, networks, other funders, and government to understand how COVID-19 and our faltering economy is affecting families and communities, and how we can best provide support and move forward together.
It is clear that existing inequalities in our society have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. A key question for us in the longer term is, how can we collectively build a fairer and more equitable post-COVID-19 Aotearoa/New Zealand?
Our funding strategy enables us to respond to COVID-19 as we provide support where it is needed in the short-term, and support communities to create sustainable social change for children, young people and families in the longer-term.
Our Collaboration funding allows us to commit to collaborative initiatives with other funders and government; our Capability funding will support the community sector as it responds to the challenges ahead; and our Fairer futures for children and whānau and Youth employment systems change projects will continue to support the wellbeing of children, families and communities in the years to come.
We look forward to working alongside our partners as we navigate our ‘new normal’ together.
To all those working hard in our communities, thank you for all that you do.
Seumas, Susie, Valerie and Helen