Watch Matilda's story below: When Matilda was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago, her whānau knew straight away what mattered most helping her stay in her own home in Ōpōtiki for as long as possible. She’s always been strong-willed (and still is!), and with her health otherwise in good shape, the family wanted to make sure she could keep her independence, while still having the right support around her. That’s where her son Chris stepped in. With the help of SupportNet,

In 2023, Esther Bramwell applied to Fund for Good with a big idea - to build her very own sensory-friendly “She Shed”. Living in a small home with her parents and younger sisters, Esther was craving a space of her own. Somewhere quiet and creative, where she could sing, dance, and just be herself. With support from Fund for Good, and her qualified builder dad, Esther got to work. Her plan? A non-toxic, recycled-material space built just for her needs. She sourced timber recla

Tara is a creative and kind-hearted young girl who loves animals, dragons, drawing, and Minecraft. Like many kids, she’s navigating her way through growing up, except with some added complexity. Diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, Tara also lives with sensory processing challenges and physical difficulties that impact her day-to-day life. Her mum, Ashley, applied to Fund for Good with a vision: to create a dedicated sensory space at home, a space where Tara can feel safe, regulat

Sam is a bright and passionate young man with a love for all things geological. From polished quartz to treasured pounamu, Sam has long been fascinated by the natural world - his bedroom filled with dazzling stones and crystals, a testament to his enthusiasm. Keen to turn this lifelong interest into a business, Sam (with support from his mum, Melinda) applied to Manawanui’s Fund for Good to help bring his idea to life: Sam Rocks, a small business offering tumbled stones and h

Jo is a mum of three and a creative spirit with a background in early childhood education and a passion for art, craft, and community. Her youngest son, Teddy, is a Manawanui customer who lives with cerebral palsy and other complex needs. Like many parents navigating disability support, Jo knows how important it is for children to feel proud of their equipment and their identity. With Teddy’s support needs in mind, Jo applied to Manawanui’s Fund for Good to bring their idea t

Margot has always loved being outside, feeling the wind on her face, going over bumpy trails, and being part of the action. As Margot has grown, getting out and about for family adventures has become more challenging. Margot has high and complex needs, including being non-mobile, which means she relies on specialised equipment to get around. While her wheelchair is great for everyday use, it isn’t built for rough terrain, making many outdoor adventures difficult. Her family w

Matteo Gray is a bright, determined, and fun-loving 13-year-old who enjoys music, food, and a good laugh. Born with Cerebral Palsy and complex medical needs, Matteo has worked incredibly hard to gain mobility and independence. Against the odds, he started walking at age six, progressed from using a walker to walking independently at home, and now communicates using an eyegaze device. To continue building on his progress, Matteo’s family applied to Fund for Good for support to

Resilient, Determined, Compassionate. These three words perfectly capture John’s spirit. John loves spending time with his loyal pet, Rambo, and enjoys gardening, swimming, and watching documentaries. But beyond his hobbies, he’s driven by a desire to lead a more fulfilling life and create something meaningful for his community. After successfully running a Japanese restaurant in the CBD for over a decade, John faced a life-altering diagnosis of Moya-Moya disease. This led to

Nathan is 13 years old and loves trainspotting, computer games, and photography. Nathan was diagnosed with a chromosome deletion that is so rare he is one of three known cases to have this worldwide. As part of this condition, he has low muscle tone which means he becomes exhausted easily. While he does have a wheelchair, Nathan has trouble self-propelling when he is exhausted and relying on a family member or caregiver to push him really limits his independence. With the hel

Dance a part of Lucy's active life Lucy is member of a large family – parent Pip and William have six daughters. Lucy has a rare chromosome disorder, the chromosome Q13 deletion, a condition which affects only four others in New Zealand and about 150 people worldwide. Lucy is profoundly deaf with no verbal communication and she lives with autism, hyperactivity and OCD. Lucy has a team of three support workers on rostered shifts. Her sisters and parents also provide support an

Fiction fan's dreams take her to Hollywood Rose is a lively young woman who loves to visit her friends when she heads into town. She is also passionate about her favourite TV shows, even writing a bit of fanfiction. Rose loves science fiction and fantasy. She has a particular interest in the Vampire Diaries, which was her favourite show for over a decade. She always wanted to meet the characters in real life, and Individualised Funding made her dream come true. Rose travelled

Green fingers get to work in the greenhouse  Rebecca is a gardening enthusiast who is turning her passion into a sustainable business. As a recipient of a Fund for Good grant, Rebecca grows vegetables to sell at a local produce market. Living with her parents in Southland, her Dad Neville provides support while Mum Dianne works full-time. The family moved out of town to live a farmland lifestyle, complete with livestock and plenty of garden space. “We thought we’d try to give

Just like any other child his age, Xavier goes to school, has friends and loves outdoor activities. He enjoys listening to music, watching television and has a passionate interest in bikes, cars and anything with wheels. He always looks forward to going for a ride on his custom-made tricycle designed especially for him with the help of Fund for Good. Xavier lives in Milton with his foster parents, Alex and Margaret, who are both retired. It was at a family conference that the

Bradley loves to bake and is on a mission to be the King of Doggie Treats in Southland through his business Bradley’s K9 Munchies with the help of a Fund for Good grant Bradley lives in Invercargill and is supported by his Mum Sarita, sister Brittany and Jenny, a co-ordinator in the disability sector, and of course his Chief Taster and furry friend, Snuggles. With the help of his support team and the Fund for Good grant, Bradley’s dream of starting his own dog treats business