From today, organisations can apply for our new MY (multi-year) funding programme. Our first multi-year funding programme, MY Children, will have two focus areas: nurturing families and healthy homes.

One of the goals of the Wellington Community Trust is to work together with others to make a greater impact on complex social issues. To achieve this we’ve needed to take a more targeted approach supported by multi-year funding.

Multi-year funding can make a difference

We recognise that in a difficult funding environment, having security of funding enables organisations to plan ahead with confidence. MY Funding provides 5 years of funding to a small group of organisations giving them the opportunity to get on with their work without the burden of having to reapply each year. We are setting aside funding to support this programme. It complements our General funding which we are fully committed to.

Read an interview about MY Funding with CE, Mark Cassidy on the Philanthropy NZ website

The early years

Our first priority area for MY funding is children from conception to 5 years. There is overwhelming evidence that it is critical to give children the best start possible in the first years of life, when their development is at greatest risk from disadvantage.

Supporting positive growth and development in the early years of a child’s life is crucial to healthy, strong, vibrant individuals, families and communities.

The Children’s Commissioner, Dr Russell Wills wrote about creating nurturing families for Philanthropy NZ, ‘Families have the greatest responsibility for raising children … children with stable, nurturing families tend to get the best start in life.’ He also noted that, ‘Poor quality housing and over-crowding are causes of many health issues for children.’

In the first round of the MY Children funding programme there will be two focus areas: nurturing families and healthy homes.

2016 applications are now closed.