empowering our community to prosper

free

BUDGET MENTORINGΒ  β€’ Β MONEY COURSESΒ  β€’Β  COMMUNITY GATHERINGSΒ  β€’Β  PRACTICAL HELP

Compassion Trust offer: one-on-one financial budgeting & mentoring, debt management, assistance with Kiwisaver hardship, insolvency, advocacy and credit mediation. We also run educational money courses as well as community gatherings and initiatives to meet community needs in practical ways.

We are a charitable trust. Our services are free for those experiencing financial difficulty or hardships. We serve people living in the Christchurch Eastern suburbs of New Brighton, Parklands, Aranui, Philipstown, Linwood and Woolston.

Free Financial Mentoring

 

Our teams are here to offer FREE mentoring to managing your money – financial mentoring, budgeting, debt management and goal setting, as well as assist with advocacy, KiwiSaver hardships or insolvency.

We provide one-on-one mentoring and training to address financial issues and debt, and bring clarity and understanding of a weekly financial plan.

Managing money is a challenging task, especially for those on limited or insufficient incomes – and they are the ones it matters to the most. That’s when a bit of know-how and training makes all the difference, which is where we come in.

By journeying through with our clients, we can address the issues of hardship holistically, helping to break the hardship and poverty cycle and empower our following generations.

Serving our Community

 

Serving our local communities by reaching out to meet immediate practical needs is another passion of ours. Community events offering food and friendship are a regular way we do this.

We are not a food bank, but seek to assist and empowerΒ thoseΒ facing difficulties that leaveΒ themΒ short of food. We work with themΒ to ensure that this is not an on-going issue.

Compassion Trust also host various community social eventsβ€”like a Christmas feastβ€”to provide the opportunity of connection for those who may be otherwise isolated. Social connection is recognised as a key factor in peoples well being and so the gatherings and events we run can make a real difference in the lives of those who attend.

Hands of Compassion logo

Hands of Compassion

 

Volunteers helping those in our community in a practical way.

Our emphasis is toward widows, single parents, the elderly, poor and the disabled.

Yardwork, Odd Jobs, Plumbing, Painting, Electrical, Carpentry and more!

a 5 min overview

We’re making a big difference!

Β Year upon year our team work one-on-one with approximately 300 clients in our local community.

Over this last financial year:
  • 374 clients this year. 68%Β received ongoing assistance. Our statistics show that clients who work with us long term have a greater chance of becoming debt free.
  • The average debt of our client is approximately $27,711
  • Total Loan debt owed to Finance Companies is $6,235,325
  • Total client debt in our local area this last year has been $10,363,961

Through our assistance our clients have been able to stabilize and improve their financial positions, many reducing their debt or even becoming debt free. It is vital for us to build strong relationships and be there with them for the long term.

CLIENTS

$ AVERAGE DEBT

$ LOAN DEBT

$ TOTAL DEBT

“Thank you for your encouragement and support and generosity over the last few months.Β  Your advice has resulted in huge positive changes in our lives.”

β€œSo glad to hear the advisor has been in the same situation and good to talk over issues, be listened to, talked out loud with sensible advise. Very kind and knowledgeable.”

β€œWhen I rang I didn’t really know why, but I got a whole lot of extra energy just from speaking with your staff.Β  I am very grateful for your time and support.Β  I’m feeling incredibly anxious and tired, but I know we can do this, and it must be going to get better.”

Budget Service Client

“I have previously been to other places for financial advice but always found Compassion Trust to be non-judgemental and understanding whatever your situation. I never feel rushed and my financial problems are explained in a way I can understand. This is extremely helpful when trying to juggle multiple stressors life. The financial mentors are always very optimistic and after my session with them, I leave feeling a huge weight had been lifted. I was getting at my wit’s end with my particular issue, so I am very grateful for your wonderful service.”

Budget Service Client, Jan 2022

Help us make a difference

A community organization like ours needs good infrastructure, resources and staff to be effective – and that comes at a cost. Would you like to consider partnering with us by becoming β€œA Friend of Compassion Trust”?

We welcome all financial donations whether it is weekly, fortnightly or monthly, or you may wish to support the Trust by choosing a specific food item to add to our food parcels.

Find out more about how you can help

Follow what we are up to on Facebook

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1 week ago
Compassion Trust

Want to meet others in the community, feel free to join us at Compassion Trust tomorrow morning at 9 am at Grace Vineyard Beach Campus 111 Seaview Road New Brighton. ... See MoreSee Less

Want to meet others in the community, feel free to join us at Compassion Trust tomorrow morning at 9 am at Grace Vineyard Beach Campus 111 Seaview Road New Brighton.
2 weeks ago
Compassion Trust

So thankful to have the support of Eatl8r of these meals to give out to people we are working with in our budget service.
Food costs are going up and these meals really help out struggling clients.
... See MoreSee Less

So thankful to have the support of Eatl8r of these meals to give out to people we are working with in our budget service.
Food costs are going up and these meals really help out struggling clients.

Comment on Facebook

You are so welcome - really pleased we can help a little bit!

2 weeks ago
Compassion Trust

A big call out to the community to continue to support Community Fridge and Pantry New Brighton who are seeing such an increase in food demands for our locals. If you have excess vegetables or food items please drop down to 46 Hawke Street in New Brighton. ... See MoreSee Less

A big call out to the community to continue to support Community Fridge and Pantry New Brighton who are seeing such an increase in food demands for our locals.  If you have excess vegetables or food items please drop down to 46 Hawke Street in New Brighton.

Comment on Facebook

Thank you so much!❀ We have an amazing community and great support, but there are alot of budgets stretched at the moment! Please if anyone can help and share. Fresh fruit and veges especially 🍎πŸ₯πŸŒ½πŸ₯¦πŸ‡πŸŠ

What about donations Community Fridge and Pantry New Brighton? Is there a number us locals can donate to?

Kia ora, other then fresh fruit and veges what else is wanted/needed for whānau? I agree with Kim, is there a possibility of a donation given if I was to source this? Nga mihi.

Anything you can spare - The Fridge Pantry will pass it on to those in the New Brighton community members who are in need.

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