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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 apply for Kiwi Kid Sponsorship or an Individual Grant on behalf of a child in need.

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 apply on behalf of a child in your school or community 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 – One-off grants pay for things like beds, cots and bedding, glasses, medical or mobility equipment, therapy, extracurricular activities, or a digital device for children 8 years and older. Individual Grants are awarded quarterly to caregivers of children between the ages of 0-18. Maximum grant is $2000.

If you know a child in your school or community who would benefit from Kiwi Kid Sponsorship, apply today.

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

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

Up to $200 for buying a digital device for school

Can I apply on their behalf?

You can apply for a child in your school or community if the:

  • icon--checkChild is aged 4 to 17 years old
  • icon--checkChild is a NZ resident or citizen
  • icon--checkFamily is struggling to pay your living costs
What is the process?
1
Apply online
Complete the online form. Make sure you attach the documents needed for the application. Get started at the bottom of this page.
2
We find a sponsor for the child
It can take to 6 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 the child has been on the KKS programme for one year, we will send a renewal form to the caregiver. We will also notify you as the referrer. If the caregiver wants to keep the child on thre KKS programme, they must complete the annual renewal form and send it back to Variety. The child will then receive funds for the next year.

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.

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A copy of the child's Resident's Visa

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Financial information

Community Services Card

Please attach a copy of the card for each caregiver living with the child.

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The caregiver's last 2 months' bank statements

You must include the statements for every bank account, i.e. the everyday account and the savings account.

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A budget sheet from a budgeting agency

This must be signed and dated by the caregiver and the budgeting agency.

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Photo

Recent colour photo of the child

Apply for Kiwi Kid Sponsorship now

Let us answer your questions about Kiwi Kid sponsorship.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. You can apply for multiple children in one family aged 4 to 17.
Once an application has been reviewed and approved it can take up to 6 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. You, the caregiver (or the child's school) can send invoices that we pay directly.
A school champion is someone designated by a school who can help a caregiver apply for sponsorship or send claims to Variety for payment on their behalf.
If there is no School Champion in the child's school, please send your invoices to kiwikids@variety.org.nz payment. Be sure to include the child's full details such as their name and if you have it, the child ID (e.g. C123456) as well.
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 only expire when the child reaches 18 years of age, or if the caregivers circumstances change and they no longer need support from Variety.
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.