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2078 days ago

Back to school help.

Sarah from Waltham

From the Phillipstown Community trust.
Back to school costs

The wonderful Deborah Lemon from Rehua Marae has compiled this comprehensive list of where families can access a bit of help with getting the kids back to school. Thanks, Deborah, for this great work. You can also check out Deborah's website, Navigate Your Way, for a great resource that helps navigate through government and social services.

The Salvation Army can support families with uniform grants, vouchers for stationery and assistance with devices. Contact your local 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 where death, sickness, family break up or economic hardship make it difficult for families 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. The charity connects donors with individual children. If you'd like to sponsor a child, you can follow the link to learn more. 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. If you are on a benefit, you can apply for an advance to help with school costs.

If you're caring for someone else's child and receiving unsupported child benefit or orphan's benefit, you can apply for the school start up payment.

If you live in Papanui, Papanui Rotary's Children In Need Trust can help with small grants, but remember it's only for Papanui residents.

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. If you do pay the donation, you can claim a tax rebate for up to one third of the cost.

Different iwi have funding available for schooling - talk to the individual tribe for details including how to apply.

Contact my staff if you would like to discuss school costs. I am also happy to hear from parents if schools are penalising families for non payment - this should not happen.

From Duncan Webb

More messages from your neighbours
7 days ago

Poll: Should employees be able to work from home?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

At the post-Cabinet press conference, the National Party asserted they want public sector staff to return to the office. This has opened a conversation about other sectors in New Zealand who have adopted working from home (WFH).

Where possible, do you think employees should be able to work from home? Vote below and share your thoughts in the comments.

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Should employees be able to work from home?
  • 72.3% Yes
    72.3% Complete
  • 24.7% No
    24.7% Complete
  • 3.1% Other - I'll share below
    3.1% Complete
2791 votes
16 hours ago

Riddle me this: Neighbourly edition!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What type of cheese is made backwards?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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7 days ago

Christchurch: School Holiday ideas

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

If you're on school holiday duty this week, here are some ideas to get the whānau out of the house! Feel free to share any of your own in the comments below.

Sat, 28th Sept: Superhero Circus show @ The Arts Centre
Sat, 28th Sept: Picture Me: free art workshops @ Turanga
Sat, 28th Sept: Movie Screening: Flow @ The Arts Centre

Sun, 29th Sept: Super Quest activity @ The Arts Centre
Sun, 29th Sept: Quail Island Pirate Treasure Hunt @ Quail Island

Mon, 30th Sept: Movie screening: Gremlins @ Lumiere
Mon, 30th Sept: Teddy Bear Ferris Wheel extravaganza @ Islington
Mon, 30th Sept: Princess-themed activities @ Riccarton Mall

Tues, 1st Oct: Juggling Workshops @ Northlands Mall
Tues, 1st Oct: Creative Writing workshop @ The Arts Centre
Tues, 1st Oct: Carnival-Themed Crafts & Games @ Northlands Mall

Wed, 2nd Oct: Badjelly the Witch Glow Show @ Te Pae
Wed, 2nd Oct: Sleeping Beauty movie screening @ Lumiere
Wed, 2nd Oct: Fudge Shape Decorating @ The Arts Centre
Wed, 2nd Oct: Make: Sticker, Bag Tag and Bag @ South Library

Thurs, 3rd Oct: Feed the Big Butterfly @ The Arts Centre
Thurs, 3rd Oct: Stilt Walking workshop @ The Arts Centre
Thurs, 3rd Oct: Ceramic Planter workshop @ The Arts Centre
Thurs, 3rd Oct: Kids Paint & Sip

Fri, 4th Oct: Kids Art Classes - daily crafts @ Roy Stokes Community Hall, New Brighton
Fri, 4th Oct: Storytime @ Riccarton Bush
Fri, 4th Oct: Scouts Aotearoa Variety Show @ Grange Theatre, Riccarton

Sat, 5th Oct: Ballet: Charlie & Chocolate Factory @ Southern Ballet Theatre

Mon, 7th Oct: Sleeping Beauty movie screening @ Lumiere
Mon, 7th Oct: African Drum workshop @ The Arts Centre
Mon, 7th Oct: Cicus Classes @ The Arts Centre
Mon, 7th Oct: Nee Naw with Deano Yipadee @ Tūranga
Mon, 7th Oct: Spring Garden Picnic @ Richmond Community Gardens

Tues, 8 October: Harmoney & Beatboxing workshops @The Arts Centre
Tues, 8 October: |One Day Circus School @ The Arts Centre
Tues, 8 October: Lego Bricks Building @ The Arts Centre
Tues, 8 October: Kids Paint & Sip @ The Arts Centre

Wed, 9 October: Traditional Kite-making workshop @ The Arts Centre
Wed, 9 October: Cicus Classes @ The Arts Centre
Wed, 9 October: Movie screening: Gremlins @ Lumiere

Thurs, 10 October: Carrot & Pickle Clown workshop @ The Arts Centre
Thurs, 10 October: Kids Paint & Sip @ The Arts Centre

Fri, 11 October: Build a Rocket workshop @ The Arts Centre
Fri, 11 October: Storytime @ Riccarton Bush

Sat, 12 Oct: Explore Antartica @ Tūranga

Other ideas:
Air Force Museum
Arion Farm Park
Canterbury Astronomical Society Open nights
Canterbury Museum
The Great Museum Santa Search
Chipmunks
Christchurch Art Gallery
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Christchurch Gondola
Christchurch Tram
CoCA Centre of Contemporary Art
Ferrymead Heritage Park
Flip Out Trampoline Arena
Imagination Station
Inflatable World
International Antarctic Centre
Mega Air Trampoline Arena
Orana Park
Rutherford's Den at The Arts Centre Interactive, science-themed family fun.
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
YMCA Clip 'n Climb
Xtreme Entertainment - bowling and arcade
Playgrounds: The Margaret Mahy Family Playground - Tākaro ā poi and the New Brighton Beachside Playground are popular destinations.
Pools - QE11, Jellie Park

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