Grant supports Kickstart Kai and Tangata Ora at UCOL Wairarapa

UCOL Wairarapa is thrilled to have been the successful recipient of a $5,000 grant from the Thomas George Macarthy Trust.

The funding will go towards essential food and personal care support for ākonga through UCOL Wairarapa’s Kickstart Kai and Tangata Ora initiatives.

Kickstart Kai, which operates across all UCOL campuses, provides ākonga with free, simple breakfasts or lunches each week, while Tangata Ora provides personal hygiene packs containing toiletries, menstrual products, toothpaste, deodorant and other essential items.

Kaikōkiri Wairarapa, Riki Anderson, says the organisation is very grateful for the support.

“We are always looking for additional sources of funding for these initiatives, as they provide valuable support for our ākonga to help ensure their success while studying.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to apply for funding from organisations like the Thomas George Macarthy Trust, which can make a real difference for our ākonga.

“This grant will help us continue supporting Wairarapa ākonga who are facing financial pressure from rising living costs and unexpected expenses such as vehicle repairs or medical bills,” says Anderson.

Sela Fiu-Poufa, Kaitautoko Tauira, says Kickstart Kai has been operating at UCOL Wairarapa since 2023 and is making a tangible difference for ākonga.

“The kai provided through Kickstart Kai can make a real difference, particularly when students are dealing with ongoing financial pressures. We know that someone with a hungry puku cannot focus on learning, so being able to help feed our ākonga also means we’re helping them with the success of their learning.”

Food for the initiative is sourced through Wairarapa food rescue organisation Wai Waste, which provides the campus pātaka kai with surplus food that may otherwise go to waste.

“From that food, our Te Mana Tauira team prepares meals for Kickstart Kai. We try to be creative, making soups, wraps, sandwiches - things that are easy to eat on the go and consider dietary preferences,” says Fiu-Poufa.

Across Kickstart Kai, shared meals, emergency food parcels and other food assistance, UCOL Wairarapa provides more than 100 instances of food support each week. Around 20 to 35 ākonga also access hygiene support each month.

“Many ākonga access food support more than once because financial pressures are ongoing rather than a one-off crisis.

“For some, the practical support provided through Kickstart Kai and Tangata Ora means they can attend classes, complete placements, stay engaged with their studies and continue progressing towards graduation."