June 2022

Rātā Foundation and the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust jointly commissioned research into housing affordability in Greater Christchurch. 

We think it’s a good snapshot of the data, current issues, needs and importantly areas where organisations will have to work together to make a difference.

WFCT and Rātā are keen to work together and with other partners to find collaborative solutions to the housing needs of our community. Both organisations are prioritising working in the affordable rental and affordable progressive home ownership sectors. Read the report here.

May 2023

WFCT is deeply humbled to call Jono Campbell, kaihautū of Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi, Youth Development Champion and sector expert an official part of the WFCT team.

While Jono has been advising the trust for many years, he now sits on the board as a trustee. We are so excited and so lucky to work with Jono in this capacity.

June 2023

WFCT is proud to partner with visionary and youth champion Dr Sue Bagshaw to help bring The Youth Hub to life through a $1m grant. Youth Hub will be a safe haven for young people needing support, connecting socially supportive organisations under one roof to deliver a holistic one-stop model of wrap-around services including mental health, medical, education, employment and training, transitional housing, recreation, creativity, and social entrepreneurship.

The Youth Hub is still fundraising for the next stage of their build. You too can donate here.

July 2023

WFCT recently commissioned a piece of research exploring alternative forms of education and learning within New Zealand, with particular reference to forms that cater to children with neurodiversity.

The term Unconventional Spaces of Learning was used in the report to denote spaces of learning which were different to conventional mainstream spaces. As part of this research project, 21 USLs were identified by the authors as entities that could be included as a provider of an Unconventional Space of Learning.

We hope to engage with each of the USLs to understand more about the issues, challenges and opportunities facing their organisations, and others offering alternative forms of education and learning. This will help us decide what to do next. Anyone interested should get in touch with jenn@wfct.org.nz

Read the report here.

August 2023

Together with Rātā Foundation, WFCT provided subsidies for 38 kaimahi from our local youth sector to attend the national youth conference, Involve 2023, in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. This conference is a rare opportunity to bring the national youth sector together to build connections, collaborate, celebrate and to learn. Attendees have an extensive variety of workshops and presentations to choose between-depending what interests and inspires them and what knowledge and tools will support them in their roles as they support young people.

Thanks for jumping on the waka Rātā Foundation and thanks to Ara Taiohi for another incredible Involve experience

November 2023

We are proud to support the OHI Data Navigator Tool. This tool organises data so that organisations like WFCT can understand the experiences of Aotearoa’s young people. This is useful for decision-making, developing youth programmes and research. There is growing possibility for the use of the tool. “It is a tool that’s helping to shift the power and impact data can have for the community, to the community.” Read more from the OHI Team here on their website. You can also read the 2 part report developed specifically for WFCT to to understand the experiences of Rangatahi in Ōtautahi here.

October 2023

WFCT are so proud to introduce Michelle Bergman, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Raukawa, onto the board and into the WFCT whānau. Michelle has a heart for rangatahi- as a mother and through her mahi, and brings precious knowledge of the education and health sectors and through her own journey through Te Ao Māori.