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Do you know families who need help?

Variety helps pay for the costs of essential things children need to stay healthy, to go to school and to take part in their community.

You can support caregivers to make an application for Kiwi Kid Sponsorship and Individual Grants.

Variety supports children and young people living in poverty in New Zealand.

 

Do you know a child in your school or community who would benefit from Kiwi Kid Sponsorship?

We work alongside schools, community agencies, social workers, and healthcare professionals to provide tailored, flexible support to children in New Zealand.

You can support caregivers in your community with their applications for:

Kiwi Kids Sponsorship:KKS provides ongoing support for children aged from 4 to 17 years. Children on KKS are matched to a sponsor who helps pay for the cost of essential things like clothing, bedding, school uniforms and stationery, school camp and after-school activities like swimming or music lessons.

Individual Grants:An individual grant is a one-off payment. This can be spent on:

  • Everyday essentials (bedding, clothes, shoes)
  • School costs (uniforms)
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Medical fees and equipment
  • Technology
  • Beds and Bedding

Individual grants are given 3 times a year to caregivers of children from 0 to 18 years.

Individual grants are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.

If you know a child in your school or community who would benefit from Kiwi Kid Sponsorship or an Individual Grant, encourage their caregiver to apply today.

School Champion Guide icon--download

What help can they get? Can I apply on their behalf? What is the process? Documents we need FAQs

What help can they get?

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Everyday essentials

Bedding, clothing, shoes, lunch boxes, drink bottles

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School costs

Uniforms, stationery, activity fees, school camps, school trips

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After school activities

Swimming lessons, dance lessons, music lessons, sports club fees, sports uniforms

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Medical fees

Doctors' fees, prescriptions and glasses

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Technology

Buy a digital device for school

Can I help them to apply?

You can help a caregiver in your school or community apply if:

  • icon--checkTheir child is aged 4 to 17 years old
  • icon--checkTheir child is a NZ resident or citizen
  • icon--checkThey have a valid Community Services Card
What is the process?
1
Help caregivers to apply online
You can help them complete the online form and make sure they attach all the documents needed for the application.
2
We find a sponsor for the child
It can take to 24 months for the child to be matched to a sponsor. Sponsored children receive $450 per year. 
3
A sponsor is found
We will email the caregiver when a sponsor is found.  They will receive a Welcome Pack in the post which includes information on how to access their funds. 
4
Support through the year
When the child is first sponsored we will send a $100 Warehouse Purchase Order that can be used to buy the things the child needs right now - clothing, shoes and bedding . The balance of the sponsorship can be used throughout the year. The caregiver or the child's school can send invoices that we pay directly. They do not have to pay any of this money back.

When a child has been on the programme for a year, Variety will send their caregiver an email to remind them to renew.

What do I need to apply?

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Proof of children's identity

A copy of the child's New Zealand birth certificate or New Zealand passport.

Group 550

A copy of the child's Resident's Visa

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Financial information

Community Services Card

Please attach a copy of the valid Community Services Card for the primary caregiver of the child.

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Photo

Recent colour photo of the child

Let us answer your questions about Kiwi Kid sponsorship.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, they can apply for any child in their care between the ages of 4-17.
Once an application has been reviewed and approved it can take up to 24 months to match a child with a sponsor.
When the child is matched to a sponsor the caregiver will receive an email telling them who there sponsor is (first name only) and where in New Zealand they live.
Typically the value of sponsorship is $450 per year.
To know how much funding is available on the child's account, you may do ANY of the following:
  • Log-in to Variety website.
  • Email us at kiwikids@variety.org.nz asking for the information, and with the child's name and child ID (e.g. C123456) in the subject line.
When a child is first sponsored we will send a $100 Warehouse Purchase Order to their caregiver that can be used to buy the things the child needs right now - clothing, shoes and bedding . The balance of the sponsorship can be used throughout the year. When a child is first sponsored we will send a $100 Warehouse Purchase Order to their caregiver that can be used to buy the items the child needs right now - clothing, shoes and bedding . The balance of the sponsorship must be spent each year on essentials the child needs. The caregiver can send us invoices that we pay directly, or you can do so on their behalf.
A school champion is someone designated by a school who can help caregivers with their applications and send claims to Variety for payment on their behalf.
Each year we will ask caregivers to
  • send a new photo of the child for us to share with their sponsor
  • confirm their address, and
  • the child to compete an 'about me' update. If caregivers do not provide the information we require their child will not keep their sponsorship.
The child can be sponsored until they are 18 years old or they no longer go to school, or their circumstances change and they do not need support from Variety. Caregivers must renew their child’s sponsorship each year to access another year of funding- this does not happen automatically. If the child is still at school their sponsorship will end at the next renewal date after their 18th birthday. If they leave school before 18 years, but are doing a NZQA credited course, they will still receive sponsorship.
Clothing, shoes, school stationery, school activities (camp/sports), bedding, digital devices
The funds a child receives must be used within the 12 months of their sponsorship. Any unused funds will not be available to carry over into the next year of sponsorship.
Group 89 More questions? Contact us on 09 520 4111 or

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Variety is a registered charitable organization under the Charities Act 2005.

Our Charities Commission registration number is CC24039.