AMI Community Grants application

Katie McCullough from Cholmondeley Children's Centre

Cholmondeley Children’s Centre in Governor’s Bay provides short-term emergency and planned respite care for children of families who are affected by stress and crisis. These issues could include, but are not limited to, illness, bereavement, displacement, family violence, financial strain and addiction. In these situations children are often the first to become vulnerable, especially when a family’s usual supports, like friends and family are unable to help. When it is considered in the best interests of the child to spend some time away from home, Cholmondeley Children’s Centre is here to help. Our organisation’s aim is to give children an opportunity to build resilience, while gifting time to families to manage stress and crisis, through provision of a fun, camp-like respite with 24 hour care and an education programme.

At Cholmondeley we believe that all children have the right to be unconditionally respected by adults, feel safe and have their physical, emotional, social and cultural needs met. To meet children’s needs we have created a safe, warm, stimulating, nurturing environment and retreat.

Our organisation has a long history of caring for Canterbury children in need - we’ve been operating since 1925 and have improved the lives of over 25,000 children and their families. We are 80 per cent community funded so rely heavily on the generosity of supporters like AMI Community Grants, to continue to provide this vital service.

Cholmondeley Children’s Centre’s vision is ‘Value Our Children’ - a Canterbury haven, creating a meaningful and enduring difference for every child and their whanau. Our core purpose is to ensure that every child leaves Cholmondeley with enhanced well-being. By striving to achieve our core purpose each and every day, we are helping to make a positive difference in New Zealand - supporting vulnerable children and their families to overcome adversity and to thrive.