Our Recipient Charities

SPELD NZ

At least one in ten people have dyslexia which impacts on literacy/numeracy development. These are essential skills needed to gain an education, employment, participate socially and contribute economically to the community.

SPELD NZ is a not-for-profit organisation providing assessment, tuition and training that can transform the lives of those with specific learning disabilities (SLD) such as dyslexia. It relies heavily on sourcing local funding to support its Western Bay of Plenty Local Liaison Group.

Local funding goes towards SPELD NZ’s financial assistance scheme for SLD learners from low income families. It is hard for parents to accept that their child has a learning disability; it is even harder when they realise they cannot afford to pay for the help needed.

Acorn Foundation funding also assists local schoolteachers to upskill through SPELD NZ’s NZQA-approved training.

Western Bay of Plenty teacher, Emma Pollard uses the specialised skills she learned through SPELD New Zealand to support her dyslexic daughter and others like her.

"I love teaching children and seeing their zest for life and learning in the classroom. However, when I came across a student who couldn't read or write in a Year 3 classroom, I struggled to know how to help her. Whenever she had to read or write, I’d notice her bright spark leave and it broke my heart. So I decided to train as a SPELD NZ Teacher, and this is where my dyslexia learning journey began!"

Local funding also helps SPELD NZ to keep membership fees affordable. Many parents are dyslexic themselves and in low paying jobs. Teaching the next generation skills to gain educational qualifications can help break familial poverty cycles.

Providing SLD learners support before negative behaviours develop reduces stress on whanau and schools. It also cuts costs to social welfare (less long-term benefit dependency), health (mental health issues) and the justice system (youth offending, crime).