Key Takeaways
- The Social Investment Agency has announced the first organisations to receive funding from the Social Investment Fund, totaling $50 million.
- The funding will support children from newborns to 18-year-olds who are at risk of poor outcomes, including those whose parents are in prison or have been in the care system.
- Seven organisations have been selected to receive funding, including Te Hou Ora Whānau Services Limited, Tākiri Mai te Ata Trust, and Barnardos New Zealand Incorporated.
- The organisations will provide a range of services, including counselling, trauma therapy, and family mentoring, to support the target groups.
- The Social Investment Fund has a total budget of $190 million, which will be allocated over time to support initiatives that improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Introduction to the Social Investment Fund
The Social Investment Agency has announced the first round of funding from the Social Investment Fund, with seven organisations receiving a total of $50 million to support children and young people at risk of poor outcomes. The funding is part of a larger effort to address the complex social issues facing New Zealand, including child poverty, family violence, and mental health. The Social Investment Fund is a key component of the government’s social investment approach, which aims to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations by investing in initiatives that have a proven track record of success.
Organisations Receiving Funding
The seven organisations receiving funding in the first round of the Social Investment Fund were selected by a panel of government and social sector leaders. The organisations will provide a range of services, including counselling, trauma therapy, and family mentoring, to support children and young people who are at risk of poor outcomes. For example, Te Hou Ora Whānau Services Limited will receive funding to support 120 children in Dunedin, while Tākiri Mai te Ata Trust will receive funding to support 200 young people in Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt. Other organisations receiving funding include Te Puawaitanga ki tautahi Charitable Trust, Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services Trust, Barnardos New Zealand Incorporated, Horowhenua New Zealand Trust, and Kaikaranga Holding Ltd.
Target Groups and Services
The organisations receiving funding will support children and young people who are at risk of poor outcomes, including those whose parents are in prison or have been in the care system. The services provided will be tailored to meet the specific needs of each target group, and will include individual and group sessions, counselling, trauma therapy, and family mentoring. For example, Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services Trust will provide support for families dealing with historic trauma, while Kaikaranga Holding Ltd will provide tutoring, sensory tools, and short-term behavioural guidance for disabled and neurodivergent children who have been suspended or stood down from school.
Selection Process and Evaluation
The organisations receiving funding were selected by a panel of government and social sector leaders, based on their ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of the target groups and their needs. The organisations were also required to demonstrate a robust evaluation framework, to ensure that the effectiveness of their services can be measured and evaluated. Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis stated that the successful organisations showed they could make the best overall impact for the target groups, and were able to measure that success.
Budget and Future Funding
The Social Investment Fund has a total budget of $190 million, which will be allocated over time to support initiatives that improve outcomes for vulnerable populations. The first round of funding totals $50 million, and future rounds will be announced in due course. The government has committed to investing in initiatives that have a proven track record of success, and to evaluating the effectiveness of these initiatives to ensure that they are achieving their intended outcomes.
Conclusion
The announcement of the first organisations to receive funding from the Social Investment Fund is a significant step forward in addressing the complex social issues facing New Zealand. The organisations receiving funding will provide critical services to children and young people at risk of poor outcomes, and will help to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations. The Social Investment Agency will continue to work with government and social sector leaders to identify and support initiatives that have the potential to make a positive impact, and to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives to ensure that they are achieving their intended outcomes.