Advocacy and Support

The Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit (SPPU) prepares papers, reports and submissions and gives presentations to encourage necessary reforms for the wellbeing of all individuals, families and communities. SPPU advocates and partners with stakeholders such as MPs from all parties, government departments, academia, and other NGOs. 

The Social Issues SPPU described to encourage necessary reforms

• the scarcity of mental health facilities, the huge increases in house prices, and the lack of infrastructure spending 
• concerns about the costs of basic food items relative to incomes and access to affordable food for some communities
• lockdown briefings were produced that focused on issues related to the pandemic including gambling harm
• proposed changes to address and eliminate food insecurity
• snapshot of our social progress as a nation at this point in time
• high rental costs and the suriging increase in the cost of living

 

In August, The 'State of Our Communities' report was published, it highlighted the scarcity of mental health facilities, the huge increases in house prices, and the lack of infrastructure spending. Click here to read.

A submission was made to the Commerce Commission's draft report into the supermarket sector, sharing concerns about the costs of basic food items relative to incomes and access to affordable food for some communities.

In September, two lockdown briefings were produced that focused on issues related to the pandemic including gambling harm. Click to read the first one on Food Security, and the second one on Lockdown challenges. 

The State of the Nation report attracted wide media coverage in February. It draws on existing data to provide a snapshot of our social progress as a nation. Click here to read!

 

Programmes that helped youth in the community

 

Driver Programmes

During the year, 723 benefitted from The Salvation Army Driver Programmes. This programme helps individuals facing barriers to gaining their restricted and full driver licences. They recognise that holding a driver licence contributes to social and community connectiveness and creates a better chance of securing a pathway into permanent and sustainable employment. 

Blue Mountain Adventure Centre

About 1000 young people went to Blue Mountain Adventure Centre during the year. 

Aspire

Aspire is a 10-month youth development programme that includes weekly work, adventure experiences and family support. Around 240 young people completed Aspire during the last school year, where they learnt about self-reflection and recognition alongside key youth development principles. 

Aspire's Story

The Aspire Programme exists to support Kiwi rangatahi to navigate life, purpose, relationships, hopes and dreams. Furthermore, Aspire puts positive, safe adults alongside our rangatahi in a time where their development correlates with who they become. 

We were privileged to journey alongside a group of people who didn't want to be in school any more, they didn't see any other way for their lives to go and were happy to be sitting at home on the benefit. We journeyed together deeply on the 'ko wai au' part of the Aspire programme to help them navigate their worlds. 

Of the people we journeyed with that year, three are now studying policy, science, and sociology, two are mothers who are still with their partners and are making it work as a family unit, two are working full time and living independently, one was nominated the best female fire dancer in Wellington, and one has gone back home to look after their elderly grandparents. Looking at them and how far they have come, I am proud at the work they choose to continue to do for themselves and their families. 

To read our full Advocacy and Support section in the Annual Report, click here.