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

In New Zealand, funded support for our elderly and disabled comes in a few different forms. Individualised Funding (IF) and Home Based Agency Care offer different approaches to disability support, each with its own benefits. Here’s a breakdown of how they compare: Benefits of Individualised Funding (IF) Individualised Funding (IF) is built on a simple principle: the people closest to the care needs are best placed to decide how those needs should be met. IF provides funding d

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