Wilson Trust here to help our physically disabled kids

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A TRUST supporting physically disabled children and their families wants Gisborne people to know its services are available.

The Auckland-based Wilson Home Trust provides financial and support services to communities in the upper North Island says trust manager Carol White.

“The trust can provide financial support via grants, information to help families learn about services and support available to them, connections with other families who have children with physical disabilities and a listening ear for families who just need to talk to someone sometimes.”

Resources and support co-ordinator Kim Graham recently visited Gisborne to meet families and organisations and another trip is planned for March.

Mrs White says the trust can support any family with a physically disabled child under the age of 22.

“So many of the families we help have so much to deal with and so little time to try to do everything.

“Since I have worked at the trust we have helped physically disabled children attend camps, sporting events and festivals.

“We have also assisted them to get specific types of equipment such as specialised wheelchairs and theratogs, and participate in activities such as swimming, horse-riding and music therapy.”

Mrs White says helping children and their families is a great feeling.

“It is hard to describe how good you feel when you are able to help a family and make a small difference in their lives.

“It is always lovely to hear back from families and some even send me photos of their child with the equipment or doing the activity we have helped support.

“I put these photos on the wall by my desk to remind me how special the work we do is.”

She left her corporate job to do something meaningful.

“I think there comes a point in your life when you challenge what you are doing and why.

“For me this happened about seven years ago when I decided the corporate life was no longer appealing to me and I wanted to do something more meaningful.

“An opportunity arose to enter the not for profit sector six years ago and I can’t imagine working anywhere else now.

“All of the team here at the Wilson Home Trust are here for the same reasons and we all get great satisfaction and joy from the work we do here.”

To find out more visit the website www.wilsonhometrust.org.nz