For many children, life is far from ideal. This grant to this Upper Hutt school provides vital resources to address children’s emotional wellbeing, including self-esteem, relationship skills and resilience.
Fraser Crescent School, much like other schools all across the motu, has been grappling with various challenges impacting student wellbeing. Post-COVID, children are presenting with more mental health issues, and many are experiencing the impacts of financial, mental and emotional stress at home.
In response, this school has been investing in a spectrum of programs and interventions aimed at nurturing students’ growth and resilience. However, the escalating demand for essential support, such as counselling, social skills programs, brick therapy, friendship groups, and empathy programs, has strained the school’s financial resources.
Recognising the need to sustain these initiatives, Fraser Crescent School embarked on a trial in Term 2 of 2023, collaborating with Heather Dodge of Kaleidoscope Solutions. Heather’s expertise in wellbeing and coaching programs presented a promising opportunity to address the students’ evolving needs. Through weekly engagements, Heather worked with classes, groups, and individual students, delivering mindfulness sessions, cultivating resilience, perseverance, and fostering positivity.
“We have seen some significant and positive changes with many of the students who have participated,” John Canner says, Principal at Fraser Crescent School.
He highlights the far-reaching benefits not only to students and teachers but also to the broader community. “Even after one session with Heather we have seen significant improvements for many students.”
Eager to sustain this momentum, Fraser Crescent School sought to secure additional funding to extend Heather’s services.
“Given the wide range of other vital programs and supports that we offer the students, it was impossible to fund Heather Dodge’s programs beyond our original trial period of last year,” John says.
So Fraser Crescent School turned to the Grants for Good program for support. The school’s request for continued funding reflects its unwavering dedication to providing holistic support to its students.
“We were so grateful to the Grants for Good program and the funding we received,” says John. “We’ve been able to continue funding the Kaleidoscope Solutions program – not just for students, but also for our teaching staff, who have received some residual training on how to best support our students."
Thanks to the grant, Heather has been at the school during term times from early February 2024 until early July 2024.
“There’s a big demand out there, and it’s so great to see the children beaming after their sessions and being more set up for the rest of the day.”
HealthCarePlus is delighted to foster this partnership with Fraser Crescent School, ensuring that every child receives the support they need to flourish. Chief Executive of HealthCarePlus, John Seed, visited the school recently and was impressed with the resources and workshops available for students. “It’s just wonderful to be able to fund work like this so that children feel seen and heard and so are better equipped to excel at their learning.”
Feedback from our Grant's committee about this project:
If you are interested and want to know more this year's Grants for Good and how to apply for one, then click below to find out more.
Got an idea to
MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE?
Leave a comment