Simplicity Charitable Trust recently completed the fourth round of giving for 2021, and we’re happy to announce that a total of $500,000 was distributed between six Kiwi charities, all doing essential work in their communities. 

We support charities across four priority areas that have been identified by members as important:

* Youth
* Environment and climate change
* Education and financial literacy
* Homelessness

Here's who we gave to this round:

Trees That Count helps individuals and businesses plant trees, as a simple and effective way to mitigate climate change and enhance native wildlife habitats around NZ. This giving round, $220,000 will go to Trees That Count to plant native trees nationwide. We've now funded 80,000 trees, and will continue to plant one for every Simplicity member. 

Lifewise received $70,000 of funding for their youth housing programme in Auckland. The contribution assists Lifewise in fitting out new housing units in Auckland's Glen Eden suburb. The specially designed units provide safe and comfortable housing for youth who don't have a safe or stable place to live. The young people receive wraparound support and opportunities to exercise leadership, build key skills and get involved in their communities. 

Inspiring Stories has a bold vision to see young New Zealanders unleash their potential to change the world. This round we're supporting the charity's Future Leaders programme. Over 12 months the programme provides coaching and mentor support, specifically focussed on smaller, remote communities (currently in Ōpōtiki, Kawerau, Whakatāne, Whangarei, Kaikohe, and Greymouth). Simplicity Charitable Trust will be supporting the programme's delivery in 2022 with $70,000. 

Kiwi Harvest works with food businesses (supermarkets, wholesalers, producers, cafes, restaurants and hotels) to redistribute perfectly good food that's not able to be sold. New Zealand industry generates more than 103,000 tonnes of food waste per year, and it's estimated that 60% of food going to landfill is edible. $60,000 went to Kiwi Harvest's Dunedin operation, where Simplicity Charitable Trust has funded a new refrigerated van. If you see the Kiwi Harvest van out and about next year, be sure to give it a friendly toot!

Kōtātā Insight is a pilot program that will analyse and evaluate school attendance levels in South Auckland. $45,000 will be donated from Simplicity Charitable Trust to support these efforts. 

Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust trap introduced predators to stop them from killing native New Zealand birds. $35,000 is going towards pest eradication in the Dart and Rees Braided Rivers Catchment. These areas are home to several native birds and New Zealand's only native land mammal - the bat, or pekapeka.

You can find out more about the Simplicity Charitable Trust here.