Youthline Central South Island

The Challenge

Supporting young people is never easy work, but supporting young people recovering from a natural disaster – while simultaneously recovering your organisation’s shattered infrastructure – is the challenge Christchurch-based Youthline Central South Island has faced over the last two years.

The Response

“On 22 February 2011, when the big Christchurch earthquake hit, we made it out of our building and never set foot in it again,” says Tina Mackie, Manager of Youthline Central South Island.  “We lost everything. Our phone system, computers, records, and all personal effects were left behind in the severely damaged Christchurch Community House.”

Youthline then had to re-establish the organisation, operating for five months from a staff member’s spare bedroom, before finally finding shared office space – at a significantly higher rent.

“In many ways we were starting from scratch; however, we still had the things that really mattered…our wonderful people, our kaupapa, our history, our community connections.  This is what has kept us going.”

At the same time, the role of supporting young people was more important than ever, with many young people experiencing significant stress and dislocation.  Thanks to the support of Youthline centres around the country, phone and text counselling services continued uninterrupted despite the earthquakes.

In addition, Youthline adapted to meet emerging needs, for example, creating the ‘Youthline Earthquake Support Book’ specifically aimed at young people and the adults supporting them.  The 20,000 booklets were warmly received.   “Young people really appreciate the bite-sized bits of information presented in a visually appealing way – they want to pick it up and read it.  It’s also great that it is written by someone who experienced the events,” says Community Resource Co-ordinator Eve.

How The Todd Foundation Helped

Two grants from the Todd Foundation – one from the Earthquake Recovery Fund towards increased rent and the other from our General Fund towards salaries – has helped Youthline Central South Island back on their feet and out with young people again.   “With the Todd Foundation you know you are dealing with a funder who takes their role seriously, and the lines of communication are fabulous,” says Tina.

What they say about it

“I want you to know I do appreciate Youthline’s support as you are the only people supporting me through this,” is an example of the feedback young people are providing to the Youthline team.   In a world turned upside down following a natural disaster, being there and responding appropriately matters more than ever.  In the words of another young person: “You have really helped me out today. I really appreciate it and am thankful that people do care in the world.”

see www.youthline.co.nz

YMEN

The Challenge

New Zealand has a huge shortage of male teachers in early childhood education centres and, at the same time, a high rate of male youth unemployment. “It was a matter of bringing the two together,” says Amanda Coulston, General Manager of Wellington Region Free Kindergarten Association. “Our vision was to enhance children’s learning experiences through the contribution of young men to broaden children’s perception of themselves as learners.”

The Response

Long-term unemployed young men, identified through Work and Income then vetted and trained by the Kindergarten Association, were offered paid placements as teacher aides in kindergartens under the six month Y-men programme.  Mentored by experienced male early childhood teachers, they worked 30 hours per week in kindergartens, with one day a fortnight dedicated to support in study, career guidance and life skills, such as budgeting and time management.

The children’s responses have been extremely positive. “If boys work alongside young men they see themselves as learners from an early age, which is incredibly important. It’s also important for the girls to see men engaging positively with them in activities like reading, plus rough and tumble.”

Since the first intake, twelve out of twenty men have been accepted into the early childhood degree programme, while the remaining eight have chosen other study and work options. Wraparound care extends beyond the programme to ensure each one achieves their career goals. Amanda says the programme has helped the men realise that they really do have something to offer. “I haven’t struck one young person who doesn’t want to do the best they can.”

How The Todd Foundation Helped

“I think that the Todd Foundation is fantastic at supporting organisations to be innovative.  The trust that staff members instilled in us to do what we said we wanted to do was really affirming,” Amanda says. “They are very supportive and they really believe in the programme.”

What they say about it

Y-men participants, John and Dean, say that the programme has completely changed their lives. “The feeling you get when you teach kids something new, it’s just the best feeling in the world. Every night I can’t wait to go to work in the morning and see the kids, and I get ideas in my head all the time now about what I can do to improve,” says Dean. John adds that he would recommend the programme to anyone “I didn’t think about early childhood education before, but this course has totally opened my eyes.  I am feeling confident about my future, and this is a really cool career path.”

see www.wn-kindergarten.org.nz 

Festival of Transitional Architecture

The Challenge

Christchurch has long been known for its superb public art works, and while many withstood the earthquakes, some were damaged or became inaccessible. The rebuild provided opportunities to build on this fine heritage in new and innovative ways.

The Response

In a grassy space beside the heavily damaged Christchurch Arts Centre, a group of well-known Māori and Pasifika artists, including Riki Manuel, Stone Maka, Trish Shaw and Fatu Feu’u, work with recycled donated materials from the earthquake. The artists are donating several months of their time to create public art works celebrating Christchurch’s past, present and future.  Visitors can watch the process of sculpting godwits to symbolise the return of life, a stylised waka to represent the journey into the future, and a red stone heart that defiantly announces “I still live here”.

Across town, SCAPE 7 Public Art Christchurch Biennial is being planned.  The largest producer of new contemporary public artwork in New Zealand, SCAPE commissions and installs large-scale contemporary public art at high-profile sites in central Christchurch.  SCAPE 7 will see the creation of a major permanent public artwork (to be funded by Todd Foundation), a public art walkway, an education programme and a series of public events.

Also planned for 2013 is the second Festival of Transitional Architecture (FESTA) which, as director Dr Jessica Halliday explains, aims to “heighten awareness and appreciation of the city’s unique opportunity to be a global epicentre for creative urban renewal.”  The first FESTA in 2012 brought 20,000 people to LUXCITY, a city made from light for one night. The second will be even more innovative and engaging, and will involve architecture students from across New Zealand working with local artists, arts organisations and businesses. “Be there this Labour Weekend,” says Jessica.

How The Todd Foundation Helped

Todd Foundation funding has been crucial for all three of these projects. “FESTA wouldn’t have happened without the Todd Foundation,” says Jessica. “The first seed grant was planted in fertile soil and saw us right until others came on board, while additional funding for the 2013 event means we can make this year bigger, better and even more exciting.”

What they say about it
“These projects are helping to restore Christchurch’s vibrancy and community morale with public art that is fun, inspiring and consoling,” says Stephen Wainwright, Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand.   “They also encourage artists to remain working in the city because they provide wonderful opportunities for them to present their work when many former galleries and venues no longer exist.”

Every Child Counts

The Challenge

Most Kiwi kids have a great start to life; unfortunately there are still many who do not. “As a nation we need a shared vision about what we actually want for our children, and some agreement around how we achieve it, so that every child in New Zealand is safe, happy, healthy and treasured,” says Deborah Morris-Travers, Manager of Every Child Counts.

The Response

Every Child Counts’ aim is to create critical mass around the issues facing vulnerable children.  “Around our table are the CEOs of Plunket, Barnardos, Unicef, Save the Children and Mana Ririki, who all bring very practical experience of what’s going on for families out there,” says Deborah.

Their vision is “a nation that values children and ensures that every child in New Zealand is secure, healthy and happy.” In practical terms this means advocating for the policies, practices and attitudes that enable children to thrive. This is done by providing information about the status of children in Aotearoa NZ and advocating for effective child-focused policies.  Every Child Counts also commissions robust research, for example, showing that getting things right for children in the first three years and addressing child poverty saves at least 6 billion dollars a year.
“We are assembling the very best evidence to make the case for effective investment in children and, with Business New Zealand, promoting understanding about the economic benefits of getting it right.  This is large social and intergenerational change, which means there is a need for strategic work over a long period of time. We must understand that if we get it right for our children, our society and economy will be a whole lot better too.”

How The Todd Foundation Helped

“One of the best ways we can maximise our impact is through partnerships, and the Todd Foundation are wonderful partners.  They really support us to be innovative and learn, and their five-year partnership funding gives us the ability to exchange information and ideas with an amazing group of organisations,” Deborah says.

What they say about it

“I think you can draw a bright red line between success in early childhood and success in the workforce, or as a functioning member of society,” says Phil O’Reilly, CEO of Business New Zealand. “So working with Every Child Counts is important, because not only is it an investment approach to the issue, it also builds a bridge to other thinking and empowers debate. Together we minimise the risk of having a conversation that sits in the social sphere and feels completely divorced from the economic sphere.”

see www.everychildcounts.org.nz

Curious Classrooms

The Challenge

The strong focus on numeracy and literacy in our primary schools means that science learning tends to take a back seat. “How can we help primary schools to provide ‘WOW’ hands-on science experiences for their students that will encourage engagement and interest in science?” asks Curious Classrooms Project Manager Ian Kennedy.

The Response

Working alongside the Royal Society of New Zealand, and education researchers, the Todd Foundation workshopped ideas and strategies with teachers and principals from low decile Auckland primary schools. Then they engaged Ian to support science education in 15 low decile South Auckland and Mt. Roskill schools, matching the science needs of the schools with science providers such as Stardome and the Auckland Botanic Gardens. These providers worked alongside teachers to deliver ‘wow’ science that was tailored to the school’s needs, relevant and engaging. 

Ian says the project has been a win-win for schools and providers. “Schools know what they are doing well and what they could be doing better. Now these schools have new learning pathways that they can go on with, either by themselves or with science providers. Providers have developed new programmes, and can see different ways of working with schools. We’re also seeing increased uptake of professional development opportunities in science for teachers from many of these schools.”

The legacy of this project is a new collaborative model for engaging primary school children in science.   Ian agrees: “We have to keep the curiosity alive!”

How The Todd Foundation Helped

“The Todd Foundation is without a doubt the key. They helped identify the need and had the willingness to step up and invest in a process that you could only describe as a pilot or trial. They provided flexibility to explore approaches, they haven’t gone in with one set idea, and they’ve been prepared to modify things along the way,” Ian explains.

What they say about it

“Curious Classrooms certainly provided major benefits,” says Patrick Chamley, principal of Flat Bush School in Otara. “One class produced a fabulous little video about action and reaction, using a rolling chair as a car. They put a watermelon in a child’s car seat and rolled it along, showing how, when it stopped in a hurry, the water melon kept going. It had a really good effect for kids.”

Christ the King school chose to study the solar system, which included star gazing and observing the Transit of Venus.  Student Erika loved the experience, saying, “There is so much out there that is unknown. I am now quite curious about what is out there.”

This challenge is directed squarely at the Todd Foundation – how do we structure our funding in order to maximise our grantees’ impact?  Partnership Funding, now in its third year, is our response to the following challenges:

Every Child Counts

Themes and cohorts

Each year, a new cohort of recipients joins Partnership Funding, each sharing a common theme or focus.  In 2011, four new recipients were invited, all working in child and family advocacy:

• Every Child Counts (a coalition of child-focussed organisations promoting child-centred policy and increasing public awareness of what children need)

• Great Fathers (a national initiative designed to help and encourage new dads to be the best fathers they can be)

• Jigsaw (a membership organisation to support families to raise children in safe, nurturing ways)

• Ririki – (a Kaupapa Māori organisation aimed at eliminating Māori child abuse)

These recipients join:
• our 2010 ‘supporting youth transitions’ cohort, (Big Buddy, First Foundation and Thrive Teen Parent Support Trust), now in their second year of funding
• our 2009 ‘families love to learn’ cohort, (COMET, Far North Parent Mentoring,  Tairawhiti REAP, WestREAP),  now in their third year of funding

Feedback
Partnership Funding recipients value the flexibility, security and learning opportunities of the funding – “it has lifted our heads above the water and given us enough breathing space to work on the future [rather than] being locked into daily survival,” says Richard Aston from Big Buddy.   “It provides excellent opportunities to share practice [and] learn from each other,” says Corrina Gestro-Best from WestREAP.

Todd Foundation trustees also value Partnership Funding.   “Giving grantees free rein with substantial long-term funding has required courage and a level of trust,” says family trustee Georgina Ralston.  “It’s the opposite end of the spectrum from how we once funded; where we provided small amounts to purchase a trumpet or a photocopier.  This funding is still a work in progress, but we believe it allows grantees to do much more good in the world.”

Flower

Our Response to the Christchurch Earthquakes

A year after the worst of Christchurch’s devastating series of earthquakes, some families still rely on portable toilets and many more are struggling with where they will live and who will fix their house.  Three things are clear: the physical, social and economic impact – particularly in Eastern and hill suburbs – is greater than first thought; the recovery will take longer than hoped – possibly a full generation – and all of us can help.

We all pitched in

Our way of helping was launched by the Todd Corporation, who donated $1.3 million towards an earthquake recovery fund administered by the Todd Foundation.  This included an offer to match-fund contributions from Todd family members and Todd staff – a challenge to which everyone responded generously.  The Todd Foundation Earthquake Recovery Fund now stands at $2m.

Guided by research

Our first step was to commission research on how to best support Christchurch’s recovery.  On the basis of this, the fund targets initiatives that support and renew communities and/or assist the recovery of the not-for-profit sector.

Quick, easy and run by locals

To ensure we respond without too much “red-tape”, the fund uses a simple online application, with funding decisions made monthly by a committee consisting of both Christchurch residents and Todd Foundation trustees.  The fund is managed by Christchurch consultant Bede Martin who, in the spirit of collaboration, also supports the Tindall Foundation’s earthquake response.

Success Stories

CanCERN, a network comprising residents associations, community groups and street-level coordinators from earthquake-affected neighbourhoods, is one of the 31 Christchurch organisations we funded in 2011.  “Our aim is to partner, not criticise from the sidelines,” says Brian Parker, CanCERN co-manager.  “We are a voice for communities in the recovery process, and we have built strong relationships with major stakeholders, including CERA (the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority), EQC and insurers.   We can represent community concerns to these agencies – and be heard.”

Involving young people in Christchurch’s recovery is the focus of another 2011 grantee, 24-7 YouthWork.  4,200 young people answered a survey on the future of Christchurch, and high on their agenda was recreating a sense of belonging and to have positive things happening in their own communities.  “Currently, we are using focus groups to work through the practicalities – and to make sure that the decision-makers are listening,” says co-ordinator Jay Geldard.

Todd Foundation Learning Centre

The Challenge
The Auckland Art Gallery’s recent restoration and redevelopment project opened up new opportunities for engaging with communities.
“How we could use this space to give people of all ages a way into art?   How is art connected with everyday experience of life and how can this be expressed?” asks Roger Taberner, Learning Programme Manager.

The Response

Roger’s team worked alongside New Zealand artist Reuben Paterson to create the first interactive exhibition in the newly created Todd Foundation Learning Centre.  The aim was to enable children and adults to not only understand the process of art making from an artist’s perspective but also to make their own art – regardless of their skill level. “Almost everything in the multi-media, self-directed space can be touched – it’s hands-on art – and it takes the pressure off caregivers, teachers and children alike.”
The room provides a sensory experience for young and old: work tables are strewn with materials that allow visitors to create and play with shapes, light, colour or new perspectives, the artist’s presence is captured throughout via video, and specialist staff members are on-hand to provide guidance.
“The way children and adults use the space is fascinating: they take photos or film movies, they’re taking ownership of the whole space.  They can make something to take away, or leave it here for someone else to work on.  It really is fulfilling its objective of being an intergenerational space, where people think about and take part in the process rather than just viewing the end-product.  We see them making some of those wider connections about art and what it is,” says Roger.

How The Todd Foundation Helped
The Todd Foundation donated $400,000 from its Centenary Fund in 2011, which Roger says has allowed the Auckland Art Gallery to make an unprecedented investment in programming and interactive engagement for family audiences.  Since opening in September ’11, over 100,000 visitors of all ages have experienced the Todd Foundation Learning Centre and its first exhibition Gazillion Swirl. Before the end of this year, another artist will work with Gallery staff to completely re-vamp the space and create a new set of hands-on experiences to engage our visitors.”

What they say about it
Visitor feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and Roger says the Learning Centre has become a drawcard for families. “One dad brought his daughter in for eight weekends in a row, saying they were still discovering so much about the room that they hadn’t exhausted it yet.”

see www.aucklandartgallery.com

Healthcare Heroes

The Challenge
Although our Pacific population is growing, the numbers of Pacific workers in the health sector is steadily decreasing – due, at least in part, to Pacific students often avoiding science at high school.   “Clinical evidence shows that if people are treated by health workers from their own community, their outcomes are better.  Plus, health workers are more likely to stay if they are part of the community,” says Debbie Sorenson, CEO of the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA). “We need more Pacific kids taking science and being inspired about potential health careers.”

The Response

The PMA’s Healthcare Heroes programme encourages secondary students into health science through culturally-based academic counselling, science strengthening, and career events. Although this programme boosted the number of Pacific kids taking up science, it needed something extra: mentors.   But not just any mentor – what was needed were younger, culturally appropriate mentors who could relate well to Pacific students and be a role model as well.  This is now being achieved through “Students are our Future” – a new programme where Pacific tertiary students who are studying health science run weekly, two hour sessions in over 20 South Auckland schools.
Debbie says, “This is mentoring in the broadest of terms; from an academic perspective, but also from an inspirational role model perspective.  And it’s working.  In the first 12 months we saw an 11% increase in Pacific students taking physics, translating into 300 new physics students.  And we’re not only influencing participation, but also achievement, which is steadily improving.”   The success of these programmes has enabled the PMA to increase their tertiary institution partnerships and expand into other North Island regions.

How The Todd Foundation Helped
Funding of $67,200 has trained and provided over 100 mentors to 21 schools in the South Auckland region through the Healthcare Heroes programme.  Debbie says, “This support from the Todd Foundation has allowed us to add the extra bit to the programme that has really made the difference.”

What they say about it
Otahuhu College student Michelle says, “The mentors gave me a real idea of the variety of jobs in the health field.  They also inspired and empowered me to change my career option from nurse to doctor.”
Otahuhu College Principal Gil Laurenson agrees: “Students get to know about the whole range of possible health careers – there are so many options.  Plus, they are being told about this by someone who can really relate to them.”

see www.pacifichealth.org.nz/

Te Aroha Noa

The Challenge
While women and children in the Palmerston North community of Highbury were actively engaging with education and community development initiatives, their men were being left behind.
 “I longed for men to become leaders, rather than the source of derogatory comments.  I also realised that because the women were making such strides, the men often felt threatened and sabotaged their progress,” says Bruce Maden, CEO of Te Aroha Noa Community Services.   “We needed a way to authentically engage and build leadership.”

The Response
Bruce believes they struck gold when they found Brad Rapira. ““Brad has lived with anger and violence and come through the other side, so he mirrors a story of positive change.” 
Engagement with the men of Highbury occurs in a variety of ways; Brad works in homes, provides mentoring and also successfully connects with men through his Brazilian Jujitsu classes.  “I wanted to show them that they have greater ability to achieve when they’re calm, rather than agitated and angry.  Together we’ve created a safe space which allows them to keep their masculinity.  The free Sunday classes also stopped men partying on Saturday nights so they could compete properly, and they also now feel able to contact me about issues they were having at home.”
Many of the men Brad works with are now involved in transforming the local Farnham Park into a space for the whole community.  The leadership Bruce longs for is becoming a reality.

How The Todd Foundation Helped
The Todd Foundation contributed $50,000 towards the Men Positively Impacting their Communities project, which includes Brad’s role.  Bruce says, “The Todd Foundation’s belief in this style of community development has helped us to punch above our weight so that we can be an influencer of New Zealand social work and community development practice.”

What they say about it
Three years ago Farnadez’s youngest son died at one year old, his ex-partner committed suicide and he became a single parent. He was depressed, overweight and drinking heavily.  “I went down to Brad’s class one day and just kept going – that decision’s been life changing. I’ve been brought up with family violence but doing Brazilian Jujitsu put my mind onto better things.  In that environment, it’s not about violence; it’s about humbling yourself and opening your mind.”

see http://www.tearohanoa.org.nz/