Children’s Charity

In response to D H Darling’s letter (Timaru Herald, March 28), we are grateful for the opportunity to provide more information about the work we do at Variety – the Children’s Charity.

The source of our claim that ‘‘one in four Kiwi kids live in poverty’’ is the 2019 Child Poverty Monitor Technical Report. The report reflects the fact that 254,000 children (23 per cent) live in lowincome households with disposable income less than 50 per cent of the national median after housing costs (childpoverty.org.nz).

It is unacceptable to the many Kiwis who support our cause that the child poverty rate in New Zealand has doubled over the last 30 years. Our regular giving programmes provide a way for them to make a meaningful difference to the lives of disadvantaged Kiwi kids.

At least 75 per cent of a sponsor’s monthly donation pays for the child’s basic essentials, for example, school uniform, shoes, stationery, while the rest is allocated to delivering the programme. This includes liaising with schools, sponsors and delivery partners. Our latest financial report that provides more detail can be found on our website.

Variety supports more than 5000 children with its Kiwi Kid Sponsorship programme. There are 781 of these kids living in Canterbury and another 27 local children are waiting for a sponsor.

One thing we aim to do at Variety is level the playing field for every kid. Imagine the stigma they would face if we could recognise poverty just by looking at it. Please go to variety.org.nz to help.

Richard Spilg President

Variety – the Children’s Charity