Get help with back to school costs
Deborah Lemon from Rehua Marae has compiled the following comprehensive list of where families can access a bit of help with getting the kids back to school.
Check out Deborah Lemon's Navigate Your Way website - a great resource to help navigating through government and social services.
- The Salvation Army can support families with uniform grants, vouchers for stationery and assistance with devices.
Contact your local Salvation Army centre to discuss your needs.
- The City Mission's back to school programme can help with purchasing uniforms, shoes, stationery and other costs.
- The JR McKenzie Youth Fund can provide help to families where death, sickness, family break up or economic hardship make it difficult to meet educational costs. The fund is administered by local Rotary Clubs.
- Make It Happen helps Christchurch families with school-related costs including uniform, clothing, fees, school trips, sport, music and cultural activities.
- Variety can organise a sponsor for children between 5 and 15 years old. The charity connects donors with individual children.
- Kidscan also assist children during the year and always need sponsors.
- Work and Income New Zealand can offer loans to qualifying applications to cover school costs. You don't have to be on a benefit, but income thresholds apply. You can apply for an advance to help with school costs if you are on a benefit.
- You can apply for a school start up payment if you're caring for someone else's child and receiving unsupported child benefit or orphan's benefit.
- Papanui Rotary's Children In Need Trust can help with small grants - for Papanui residents only.
- Remember to talk to your school. They should be flexible about families taking a bit longer to purchase some uniform items. Some may offer hardship grants and donations from parents are voluntary by law.
You can claim tax rebate for up to one third of the cost if you do pay the donation.
- Different iwi have funding available for schooling. Talk to the individual tribe for details including how to apply.
You can also contact your local MP if you would like to discuss school costs - especially if schools are penalising families for non payment - this should not happen.