Investing in communities since 1941
We support communities by providing grants to New Zealand charities in line with our annual funding objective.
Our funding initiative this year is for projects that provide an investment into the future of the community through a focus on education and health for children under 12.
Charities We've Supported
How we Help
The Sutherland Self Help Trust provides grants to community organisations throughout New Zealand.
Founded in 1941, the Sutherland Self Help Trust was established by the Sutherland Family, who pioneered New Zealand’s first chain of grocery stores, The Self Help Co-op. The pioneering spirit of The Sutherland Family saw them reject traditional trading methods and opt instead for a business model that would support the community.
This included setting up The Sutherland Self Help Trust to assist registered charities in New Zealand through Grants in order to deliver services to support the community.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Be the first to hear about grants
Funding initiatives differ year-to-year.
Subscribe to our newsletter to learn about future funding opportunities before anyone else and receive success stories from previous grant recipients in your inbox a few times a year.
Case Studies
Autism New Zealand
Funding from the Sutherland Self Help Trust has enabled Autism New Zealand provide diagnostic assessments for family/whānau of tamariki who have not been accepted to receive a diagnostic assessment through the public system, or where the waitlist for the public system has been prohibitively high. To support earlier diagnosis and support for autistic tamariki, Autism New Zealand prioritise assessments for tamariki under 5 years. However, they also provide assessments for older tamariki up to the age of 18 years.
Ohomairangi Trust
In 2022, the Sutherland Self Help Trust funded the Ohomairangi Trust for their More than Words Program. Based in South Auckland, the Ohomairangi Trust provides an Early Intervention service to whanau who have children with high and complex learning needs with most of the whanau also having complex social needs. The carers who attended the More Than Words program included, grandparents, single parents, young parents, and caregivers.
The Champion Centre
With the help of funding from the Sutherland Self Help Trust, three Champion Centre staff members have trained to become certified in PACT (Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy) and are utilising these skills to support parents and caregivers of young children with autism / communication challenges via our Early Intervention Services.
APPLY FOR FUNDING
2026 Funding Initiative
Funding Context: Health and Education Projects for Children
For 2026 The Sutherland Self Help Trust will fund projects that will provide an investment into the future of the community through education and health (including neurodiversity) initiatives for children under 12. The Trust recognises the need in our communities for children to have a strong start in life, and by focusing on projects that are directed at improve the education and health outcomes for children we believe this will have long lasting benefits for not only children, but their family / whanau and communities. It was decided that the 2026 grant criteria would be to selected organisations that help the education and health of children under 12.
How to Apply
Applications for 2026 funding have now closed.
The Southern Cochlear Implant Programme (SCIP) was granted a generous $50,000.00 from the Sutherland Self Help Trust toward the purchase of a clinical video system. This means our clinicians now have access to equipment for teaching, to record clinic sessions that patients (and their families) can use at home. Because of SSHT our patients rehabilitation will be made that much more accessible for themselves and their families/whanau. The SSHT was approachable and great to deal with from day one. Cochlear Implant technology is complex, so having the opportunity to discuss our needs face to face with Ben from SSHT was invaluable.